Delegation honours Indigenous soldiers who died during Second World War

Veterans Affairs Canada says a delegation has honoured the graves of Indigenous soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War.

The Indigenous Legacy Project, which was founded earlier this year, says it has identified 81 Indigenous soldiers buried in the northwestern European country.

It says the delegation abroad included family and representatives of 13 of the recently identified soldiers, as well as elders, representatives of Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones and the deputy minister of Veterans Affairs.

As many as 175,000 Canadians took part in the liberation campaign beginning in 1944, and more than 7,600 of them died.

Veterans Affairs Canada says the initiative aimed to recognize the contributions of Indigenous Peoples in the Second World War and foster a connection to their shared history.

The Liberation of the Netherlands was Canada's last major contribution to helping the Allies achieve victory in Europe during the Second World War.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2023.

This is a corrected story. An earlier version suggested the delegation to the Netherlands was being planned in the future.