Fighting alongside the British forces, the natives were instrumental during the battles of Queenston Heights and Beaver Dams and played a major role in the overall outcome of the war.

But, for now at least, the only physical recognition of their efforts is a small plaque near Queenston Heights and a handmade memorial at the base of Brock's Monument.

"If it hadn't have been for the Six Nations — and no one can prove or disprove this — but we feel that the battle could have been lost and the whole direction of Canada could have been different than what we have today," said Lyle Williams, the communications director for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Bicentennial Committee, which has asked the Niagara Parks Commission to allow for a significantly bigger monument honouring native warriors to be built at Queenston Heights.

The NPC gave the green light to the project last week, offering up a spot that is the highest point in the park.

Williams and others from Niagara-on-the-Lake's committee for the War of 1812's bicentennial, want to see a large sculpture or piece of artwork built in the next couple of years. A 32-page request for proposals will be presented to town council in December and then made available to artists across North America.

"We're not saying we want it to be this or that. We've put it out there and then when the responses come back in, we'll review them as a jury," said Williams.

"It's not going to be enormous. One of the criteria is that this one will hover closer to the ground — we want it to be more interpretive at ground level," said Tim Johnson, from the Six Nations reserve in Grand River, who is also on the bicentennial committee. "We're more interested in the content and providing an interactive experience."

The committee would prefer that the chosen artist, or collaboration of artists, are either native themselves or have "direct working knowledge of the historic legacy and cultural traditions of Six Nations and native allies that participated in the Battle of Queenston Heights."

Johnson said the idea for a commemorative display piece has been discussed for years.

"I think it's fantastic. They helped define Canada's borders and identity. It has been 200 years in the making," he said.

After the request for proposals is made public, Williams figures there will be a four- to six-month window for designs to be submitted. The goal is to have the structure built by 2014, which marks the bicentennial of the end of the war. "We don't see it being feasible, because of the scope of the project, for it to be completed by October 2012," said Williams, referring to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13, 2012.

"If it can be built by the end of 2014, we can give full recognition to the Six Nations and the native allies with a separate ceremony. They made such a great contribution. There were more lives lost by native allies and the Six Nations than by Upper Canada soldiers," Williams said.

Johnson, for one, is excited to see what designs can be thought up. "We're all looking forward to that. We really wanted to develop a professional process that would seek to find something that even exceeds our expectations," he said.

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The current War of 1812 plaque dedicated to native soldiers:

"Warriors of the Six Nations of Iroquois (Mohawks, Oniedas Onondagos, Cayugas, Senecas, Tuscaroras), mainly from the Grand River, fought as allies of the British in this historic battle with the Americans. Speaking distinctive dialects and with different religious beliefs, these Indians were drawn together for the battle by John Norton, a resourceful and courageous commander. Norton, a man of Cherokee and Scottish ancestry, was a Mohawk (Teyoninhokarawen) by adoption. With John Brant (Ahyouwaeghs), the youngest son of Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea), and John Bearfoot, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, the Iroquois fought for their own survival as a people and in support of the British."

View the article from Niagara Falls Review