Even more sides

In no way do I wish to detract from Rev. Gordon Williams' accomplishments or ministry, but he was not the first Native minister in the Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Solomon Tunkasuiciye, a Dakota, served a congregation on the Birdtail Reserve (just south of Birtle) from 1877 to 1887. Through his ministry Peter Hunter, Jason Ben and John Thunder all began the process to become Presbyterian ministers. Hunter served as the Presbyterian missionary on the Pipestone Reserve (1894-5) until his sudden death. Ben never took up a charge due to ill health. After his theological training Thunder was appointed missionary to the Oak Lake Reserve in 1895 serving for six years. Later he served on the Birdtail and Pipestone reserves.
George Flett, a Métis, served with Rev. James Nisbet in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (1866), and went on to be ordained a minister in The Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1875. He served as the minister on the Okanse Reserve covering five preaching points for 20 years until his retirement in 1895.
I do not claim this list is complete, because it is not. Nor do I put the title “first” on any of these. The story of Presbyterian ministry among the Native peoples of Canada has not been fully told; there is more to be learned.