09/29/2026
On September 30, we honor the children, survivors, families, and communities impacted by the Indian boarding school era. Education and awareness is one way in which we contribute to the healing of wounds. On this Day of Remembrance, strengthen your awareness of the history behind this day and wear orange to spread awareness. During this week, communities across the country and Canada wear orange "to acknowledge the lives of children who never returned home, honor the strength of survivors and descendants, and recognize the ongoing impacts of federal Indian boarding school policies on Indigenous communities and beyond." (boardingschoolhealing.org)
"From the early 1800s through the late 20th century, the U.S. government and various religious organizations operated more than 400 Indian boarding schools across the country. Native children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in these institutions, often hundreds of miles away from their communities. The schools’ stated goal was to assimilate Native children into Western culture – stripping them of their languages, cultural practices, family connections, and spiritual traditions.
In these schools, children were frequently punished for speaking their Native languages or practicing their cultural ways. Many endured physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse. Too many never returned home. Those who survived often carried lifelong trauma that has rippled across generations."
- National Indian Health Board
Visit the National Native Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) website to learn more about U.S. Indian Boarding Schools. https://boardingschoolhealing.org/
