State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Celebrates American Indian Heritage Day
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) Indian Education for All (IEFA) Unit are celebrating American Indian Heritage Day on September 27, 2024. 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.
“American Indian Heritage Day fulfills Montana’s constitutional promise of honoring the uniqueness of our 12 federally recognized Tribal Nations,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “OPI’s Indian Education Unit provides numerous resources for all Montana students and teachers. Join me in celebrating Montana’s indigenous culture, heritage, and history.”
American Indian Heritage Day events:
- Thursday, September 26, the Myrna Loy Theatre is hosting an Indigenous Film Festival for the general public that will include Bring Them Home, Ancestral Threads, Iniskim, Through the Storm, Our Grandmother the Inlet, and Native Ball.
- Friday, September 27, OPI’s IEFA Unit will host Indigenous Films Bring Them Home and The Trials Before Us for students at Helena High School.
- Friday, September 27, Students from Mission Valley schools and a drum group will present a vibrant Powwow Dance and Song exhibition, offering a unique cultural experience to students in Darby, the ancestral homelands of the Bitterroot Salish. The event will showcase the rich heritage of Indigenous dance and music, with students sharing the meanings and origins behind regalia, dance styles, and traditional songs. This immersive experience aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for Indigenous culture within the Darby School District and the broader community.