Aamjiwnaang First Nation citizen awarded Coronation Medal

By Sam Laskaris

PETAWAWA – An Indigenous sergeant in the Canadian military has been honoured with a King Charles III Coronation Award.

Jeff Plain, a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in southwestern Ontario, received his accolade at a recent battalion ceremony at the Canadian Forces Base in Petawawa, where he is currently stationed.

The town of Petawawa is about 160 kilometres northwest of the Canadian capital of Ottawa.

A total of 30,000 Canadians will be awarded the medal, which was created to mark the coronation of King Charles, which took place in May of 2023.

Those who receive the award have made a significant contribution in the country or attained an outstanding achievement that brings credit to Canada.

“It’s more or less just a medal of recognizing achievements in the community,” Plain said.

The 36-year-old has participated as the head veteran at various pow wows, mostly in his First Nation.

Plain has been in the military since 2008. He’s been a sergeant at Petawawa since 2021. Prior to that, he was a master corporal.

He was in Oromocto, N.B. for 14 years at the Gagetown base, the second largest military base in the country, behind Suffield, located in Alberta.

“I really enjoy it,” Plain said of his latest accolade. “It’s recognition of everything that you have done and achieved over time.”

Plain was nominated for the Coronation Award by his then chain of command. Some other members of his battalion also received the same award, but Plain is the only Indigenous member to be honoured.

Plain was aware a new coronation medal was coming out because a new king had been anointed a couple of years ago.

“There were whispers of people getting it,” he said. “But nothing is 100 per cent confirmed because they nominate people. So, I wasn’t really sure if I was or wasn’t going to [get it].”

Plain has received other recognition during his military career. He’s been presented with medals for each of his deployments abroad, in Afghanistan, Latvia, and England.

“I think they’re all equally important,” Plain said of awards he has received. “They all mean something different in a different way.”

Plain is now planning for his next step up in the Canadian military ranks. He will begin a program this month, by taking online courses, to become a warrant officer.

He’ll then head to Gagetown for some training. Upon completion, he’ll have met requirements necessary to be promoted.

And then it will be decided where the Canadian military needs him the most.

“I would like to remain in the Ontario area because I have family here,” Plain said. “I’m from Aamjiwnaang so I have a lot of family ties.”

Besides becoming a warrant officer, Plain has another career goal. He would like to complete at least 25 years in the military before retiring. He would reach his silver anniversary in the military at age 44.

Plain is also aspiring for a position beyond warrant officer.

“I would like to go higher than that,” he said, adding the next step would be to become a master warrant officer.