Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Celebrates American Indian Heritage Day

• Brian O'Leary
• September 23 2022

PRYOR – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen joined members of the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) Indian Education for All (IEFA) Unit and students from Crow Elementary School, Fort Smith Elementary School, and Hardin Intermediate School at the Arrow Creek Battlefield site near Pryor to celebrate American Indian Heritage Day. This year American Indian Heritage Day will be celebrated twice during September. In 1997, the Montana Legislature designated the fourth Friday in September as American Indian Heritage Day and stated that “all districts shall conduct appropriate exercises during the school day,” §20-1-306, MCA. In 2009, the Montana Legislature designated the last Friday in September as American Indian Heritage Day “to commemorate this state's American Indians and their valued heritage and culture…reflect on American Indian culture and heritage; and celebrate American Indians and their culture and heritage in all lawful ways,” §1-1-228, MCA. This year the fourth and last Fridays in September fall on the 23^rd and the 30^th.

“Today’s event is one of the many ways we fulfill our Constitutional promise of Indian Education for All,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “This year there are two opportunities for our schools to celebrate and honor the unique culture and heritage of American Indians. I encourage all Montanans to join me in observing American Indian Heritage Day today and again on September 30.”

Today at the Arrow Creek Battlefield site, students heard from Harry Rock Above, a member of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery for the 100^th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the authors of “Elk Morning at the Battle of Arrow Creek” A.J. Otjen and Sabrena Half.

On September 28 and 29 there will be an “Indigenous Takeover” event at the Myrna Loy theater in Helena. On September 28 there will be:

• at 5:30 PM an artist reception honoring the opening of the “In Dreams” art exhibit featuring four Native American artists
• at 7:oo PM there will be a special screening of the film “Daughter of a Lost Bird”

On September 29 there will be:

• at 6:00 PM a dedication ceremony for Blackfeet artist Louis Still Smoking’s new mural for The Myrna Loy
• at 7:30 PM Big Medicine Comedy will perform

On September 30 Big Medicine Comedy will perform for students from around Helena at the Helena Middle School Auditorium.

Governor Greg Gianforte signed a proclamation declaring September 23 and 30 as American Indian Heritage Days, which can be read here.

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