Published by : Sep 03 2024 Posted by : NVIH
California Native American Day is observed on the fourth Friday of September, a significant date for the Native American community. On this day, we recognize and honor the rich history, cultural heritage, and contributions of Native American communities. While other states may observe Native American Day on different dates, California chose the fourth Friday in September. California was the first state to officially acknowledge Native American Day in 1939, and in 1968, Governor Ronald Reagan signed the resolution that permanently established this day on the calendar. NVIH proudly supports this important day in history.
September 30th is dedicated to “Every Child Matters,” also known as Orange Shirt Day. NVIH fully supports this day, and our staff will be wearing orange shirts on Friday, September 26th, to show our solidarity. We encourage everyone to join us. For those unfamiliar with this day, “Every Child Matters” commemorates the lives lost and serves as a reminder that every child is important. This includes those who tragically lost their lives and the adults still healing from their experiences at residential schools. The movement began when Phyllis Webstad, a Native American woman, courageously shared her story in 2013. As a young girl, Phyllis was taken by her grandmother from her reservation to attend a residential school for the first time. She recalls the experience being new and nerve-wracking, but she wore a bright orange shirt on her first day. However, her orange shirt was taken from her, never to be seen again. The excitement of starting something new was replaced by fear and shame as both her innocence and her orange shirt were stripped away. When Phyllis shared her story, it resonated deeply within the Native American community, inspiring many others to come forward and share their own experiences of physical and emotional abuse. “Every Child Matters” is a day of reconciliation, honoring those from the past, present, and future.
Inder Wadhwa, CEO
