National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools

Dear UAA Community,

Today, Sept. 30, we are holding space for our Alaska Native and Indigenous communities across the state, the country and Canada for the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. This recognition is a step toward healing the ongoing trauma, acknowledging the survivors, their families and descendants of these boarding schools, and remembering the many Indigenous children who did not return to their homes, families and communities.

As a state, we have our own challenging history with boarding schools. It is essential to acknowledge the generational effects it has had on individuals of our Alaska Native communities, their families and the university.

To learn about this national day of remembrance and for additional resources on how to support Alaska Native and Indigenous communities in our state and country, visit The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

UAA is not only an institution for higher education and learning, but a space where diversity, inclusion and respect for our peers are at the heart of what we do. By acknowledging and educating our campus community about these critical events, I hope that we will create a more equitable and just tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Sean Parnell,
UAA Chancellor

September Archive