Earlier this year, The Royal Canadian Legion Liberation of the Netherlands' Branch 005 and the Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones (AVA) created the Indigenous Legacy Project -a research and remembrance based initiative to identify and mark the graves of Indigenous soldiers buried in cemeteries across the Netherlands. In partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Faces-to-Graves, 17 Indigenous graves have been identified so far at Holten Canadian War Cemetery.
Veterans Affairs Canada is supporting a delegation of families and community members of the Indigenous soldiers identified at Holten to the Netherlands to mark this initiative.
Below are the names of the 13 soldiers for whom Veterans Affairs Canada was able to identify a family or community member to participate in the delegation.
Rifleman Joseph Chalifaux, from Kinuso, Alberta, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 7 April 1945 at 28 years old.
Private Daniel Cheer, from Brackendale, British Columbia, member of Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, died on April 12, 1945 at 24 years old.
Sapper John Culbertson, from Oshawa Ontario, member of 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers, died on 30 April 1945 at 33 years old.
Private John Decoine, from Wabasca, Alberta, member of Royal Canadian Regiment, died on 1 May 1945 at 33 years old.
Private George Irons, from Curve Lake, Ontario, member of 48th Highlanders of Canada, died on 13 April 1945 at 35 years old.
Private John Laforce, from Sahanatien, Ontario, member of Royal Regiment of Canada, died on 4 April 1945 at 26 years old.
Rifleman Philip Laforte, from Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 7 April 1945 at 33 years old.
Rifleman Gabriel Lamirande, from Saint-Vital, Manitoba, member of Royal Winnipeg Rifles, died on 14 April 1945 at 31 years old.
Private Norman Joseph Letendre, from Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, member of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, died on 12 April 1945 at 24 years old.
Private Robert Odjick, member of Royal Regiment of Canada, died on 17 April 1945 at 26 years old.
Welby Patterson, from Ohsweken, Ontario, member of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), died on 14 April 1945 at 22 years old.
Sapper Sanford Saulis, from Maliseet, New Brunswick member of 1st Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, died on 10 August 1945 at 33 years old.
Private Edward Underwood, from Saanichton, British Columbia, member of 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment, died on 17 November 1945 at 27 years old
