Peter Edmund Jones

Who was Peter Edmund Jones?

Peter Edmund Jones M.D. was a Mississauga Ojibwa chief of New Credit. In Ojibwe he was called Kahkewaquonaby, named after his father in two languages.

The third child of Peter Jones and Eliza Field, Jones was born in London, Canada West. He was raised at the Muncey Mission, and later Brantford. He was educated first by his governess, and later at Brantford Grammar School. Although one quarter Indian in heritage, he was raised in a largely western fashion. Jones, who attended medical school at the University of Toronto and Queen's College, obtained a Medical Doctorate in 1866. He is the first known Status Indian to obtain such a degree in Canada.

After obtaining his medical degree, Jones moved to Hagersville, Ontario and set up a practice in New Credit. Jones became involved in politics, both on the reserve and off. He was elected a chief of New Credit from 1874–1877, and 1880-1886. He developed connections in the Conservative Party of Canada, where he argued for more Native rights and more Native control over their affairs. Unsuccessful in this, he did receive an appointment as the Indian Agent for New Credit in 1887, which he held until 1896.