Charles "Checker" Tomkins (8 January 1918 - 2003) was a Canadian Métis code talker.[1] [2]
Born in Grouard, Alberta, Tomkins was a fluent speaker of the Cree language. 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.[1] After the war he re-enlisted and served in a number of different regiments for 25 years, eventually being promoted to corporal.[2]
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.[3]