Virginia Pechawis, the oldest living Indigenous female World War II veteran in Saskatchewan died Thursday night at the age of 96 in Leask, Saskatchewan.

She was from Mistawasis First Nation. Her family says Virgina Pechawis left the reserve in 1944 when she was just 18 years old.

The young woman then made her way to Prince Albert, approximately 80 kilometres from her home, where she joined the army serving for 18 months. World War II ended September 2, 1945.