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From Nature Reserve to Front Line

  • From Nature Reserve to Front Line
Agenda
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Indigenous Liberators

Native American, First Nations & Métis Soldiers in the Liberation of the Netherlands (1944–1945)
20 April – 31 October 2026


From 20 April 2026, the Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland will present an impressive and unique exhibition on the Indigenous soldiers from North America who contributed to the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. This exhibition is made possible by the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek and was brought to Zeeland thanks to the support of the Province of Zeeland as part of the Four Freedoms Throughout the Year programme.

Stories of Courage, Identity and Inequality

The exhibition highlights the personal histories, cultural backgrounds, and often complex motivations of Native American, First Nations, and Métis soldiers from the United States and Canada. Their participation in the fight for freedom and democracy in Europe was remarkable: in their home countries, many were confined to reservations, their cultures were discouraged or suppressed, and they faced persistent stereotypes and discrimination.

Some of these servicemen never returned; others came home after liberation to a society that continued to restrict them. The exhibition presents their stories of courage as well as the struggles that followed — struggles that, in many communities, continue to this day.

Authentic Sources and a Special Collaboration

The exhibition makes use of original photographs, objects, personal testimonies, and historical research. The project was developed by the Freedom Museum in close collaboration with Dr. Mathilde Roza (Radboud University), Associate Professor of North American Literature and North American Studies, and her research team. They worked together with Indigenous families and communities, cultural centres, Dutch families, and international research and heritage partners.

Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland
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