Wendy Jocko (born 1959/1960)[1] is a former chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, and a former sergeant of the Canadian Armed Forces.[2]
Early life
editJocko was born in Pembroke, Ontario.[3] to a military family.[4] Her great-grandfather and his sons fought in the War of 1812.[5] Her uncles served in World War I, while her father served in World War II. While in Europe, her father met Jocko's mother, who was a Scottish soldier.[4] While living in Petawawa, at age 4, Jocko decided she wanted to be a soldier.[3][6]
At age 15, Jocko began working for the post office as a sorter for mail and packages.[1]
Career
editIn 1979, at age 19, Jocko joined the Canadian Armed Forces, where she served for 23 years.[1][2] She trained at Canadian Forces Recruit School Cornwallis before being posted to CFB Edmonton as a supply technician.[3] She was posted to Calgary in 1986, becoming one of the first women to serve at her base.[6] She served two tours in Bosnia and Croatia in 1993 and 1998,[3] where she worked as a United Nations peacekeeper.[1][2] Her final deployment was in Haiti.[3]
After leaving the military in 2002,[3] Jocko moved to Scotland, where she worked as a funeral director and embalmer. She eventually became a regional director of the British Institute of Funeral Directors.[1]
In 2013, Jocko returned to Canada.[1] She worked in Saskatchewan as a tractor truck driver.[1] In 2015, she reconnected with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.[3]
She was elected chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation in 2020,[1][4] and helped guide the community through the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] She was defeated in the 2023 tribal elections by Greg Sarazin.[8] In 2024, she joined the board of directors at TriCycle Data Systems.[9]
Personal life
editJocko has four children;[1] her son, James McMullin, served with 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1RCR).[3][10]
In 2023, Jocko was awarded an honorary degree from Algonquin College.[1] That same year, Elaine Goble painted a portrait of her as part of a series on Indigenous military veterans.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wendy Jocko awarded honorary degree from Algonquin College". Algonquin College. June 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b c "An Algonquin service-member was a UN peacekeeper in Croatia. Thirty years later, she's being honoured in a portrait by a prominent war artist". The Globe and Mail. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Sergeant (Ret'd) Wendy Jocko". Veterans Affairs Canada. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b c Mike, Jamin (2023-11-07). "Canadian First Nations veterans on what it means to serve". National Post. The Canadian Press.
- ^ Gilchrist, David (2024-11-04). "Valour & Victory: Landscape of Nations ceremony recognizes Indigenous Veterans Day". Niagara-on-the-Lake Local. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ a b Tran, Cindy (2022-11-08). "Chief reflects on the legacy of Indigenous women who served in the military". MooseJawToday.com. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ Sandy (2021-11-17). "MEET THE CHIEF: Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation Chief Wendy Jocko says it took the community to keep COVID-19 out". The Turtle Island News. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ Porter, Kate (March 27, 2023). "Greg Sarazin voted new chief of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation". CBC News.
- ^ "Wendy Jocko joins TryCycle Data Systems Board of Directors". TryCycle Data Systems. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ a b Fleurie, Terry (2023-04-25). "Portrait of Indigenous military veterans includes Wendy Jocko of Pikwakanagan". The Eganville Leader. Retrieved 2023-08-24.