A special traveling exhibit is available to view at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum until Nov. 27

Why We Serve is a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum that honors the generations of Native Americans who had served in the armed forces of the United States. 

Many may wonder why Indigenous peoples would make the commitment to the U.S. military with a history of violence and oppression between the two groups. According to Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum Executive Director Sylvia Bruner, Native Americans served in the military for the same reasons as anyone else; to demonstrate patriotism, pursue employment, education or adventure. Many were drafted. Yet tribal warrior traditions, treaty commitments with the United States and a sense of responsibility to defend their homeland have also inspired the enduring legacy of Indigenous military service. 

Why We Serve commemorates the National Native American Veterans memorial, dedicated at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Bruner said the exhibit includes 16 panels. These panels cover topics such as the Code Talkers, War & Peace (warriors who do not always carry weapons), Cultures of War, Origins of Native American Military Service, Army Scouts and the various wars that the Indigenous peoples have served in proudly. 

Why We Serve will be on display at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wy. until Nov. 27. 

Learn more about the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, by clicking here.