State of Montana Newsroom
American Indian Heritage Day Activities Planned for September 24
Event begins at 10:00 am at the Capitol Tribal Flag Pavilion
HELENA - State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen encourages all Montana schools to observe American Indian Heritage Day on Friday, September 24. Additionally, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Indian Education for All (IEFA) Unit has planned an observance that day at the Capitol Tribal Flag Pavilion. Speakers include Superintendent Arntzen, Governor Greg Gianforte, Director of the Office of Indian Affairs Misty Kuhl, Senator Jason Small, and IEFA Director Zach Hawkins. The event begins at 10:00 am; click here for details.
“Montana is unique in that Indian education is framed in our Constitution,” said State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Every Montanan is encouraged to learn about the distinct and unique heritage of American Indians. I invite Montana students and teachers to join me in observing American Indian Heritage Day this Friday,” Arntzen added.
In 1997, the Montana Legislature designated the last Friday in September of every year as a day of observance to “commemorate this state's American Indians and their valued heritage and culture.” In 1999, House Bill 528 was signed into law (MCA 20-1-501) and created what is commonly known as “Indian Education for All” in Montana schools.
The OPI encourages schools to participate in American Indian Heritage Day through activities that create sustained interest in learning about the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. Suggested activities include:
- Viewing IEFA online resources available on OPI’s website.
- Learning the names of all Montana reservations, tribes that live on them and languages spoken there.
- Researching the names the tribes have for themselves, which often differ from English translations.
- Exploring nearby Montana Indian cultural and historical sites and community museums.
- Inviting cultural resource experts from Montana’s tribal nations to visit.
- Highlighting Montana tribal histories.
The Indian Education for All Unit at OPI has developed hundreds of culturally relevant curriculum resources for ongoing implementation of Indian Education for All, such as its highly successful IEFA professional development webinars for educators. This year, the OPI is partnering with tribal experts in ethnobotany to offer an IEFA Ethnobotany Webinar Series starting October 5. This series of six free webinars will discuss the practical, cultural, ecological, medicinal, and/or ceremonial importance of Montana's native plant species. Educators can gain continuing education credits for participation.
Superintendent Arntzen added, “Our promise is to continue to provide schools and staff with knowledge, skills, and content to ensure Indian Education for All means cultural enrichment and academic engagement for Montana students.”
From everyone at OPI, Happy American Indian Heritage Day!
-END-