Charles "Checker" Tomkins (8 January 1918 – 2003) was a Canadian Métis code talker. Born in Grouard, Alberta, Tomkins was a fluent speaker of the

Cree language Cree (also known as Cree– Montagnais–Naskapi) is a dialect continuum of Algonquian languages spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories to Alberta to Labrador. If considered one language, it is th ...

. Shortly after marrying Lena Anderson, he enlisted in the armed forces and was shipped overseas during the Second World War. He helped develop a Cree-language code to report aircraft sightings. After the war he re-enlisted and served in a number of different regiments for 25 years, eventually being promoted to corporal. For his wartime service he was awarded the Defence Medal, the 1939–1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the War Medal 1939–1945. He was also the subject of a short documentary produced by directed by

Cowboy Smithx Cowboy Smithx (born January 31, 1982) is a Blackfoot filmmaker from the Piikani Nation and Kainai Nation in Southern Alberta. He has acted in, co-produced, and directed a few short films and music videos. His best known work is a full feature do ...

References

External links

Cree Code Talkers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomkins, Checker 1918 births 2003 deaths Canadian military personnel of World War II