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Urban Native Education Alliance and community urge board to adopt ‘Every Child Matters’ day
Summary
Students, elders and educators urged Seattle Public Schools to adopt a proclamation recognizing the boarding‑school era and to designate Sept. 30 as Every Child Matters/Orange Shirt Day; board president said resources have been shared and encouraged recognition.
Multiple speakers representing the Urban Native Education Alliance (UNEA), teachers and survivors urged the Seattle School District board to adopt a proclamation recognizing the history and harms of Indian boarding schools and to designate Sept. 30 as “Every Child Matters” or Orange Shirt Day.
UNEA representatives described the federal boarding‑school policy as having been designed to assimilate Native children and to cause long‑term, intergenerational trauma. Jesse McFerrin, a teacher partnered with UNEA, told the board the coalition asked Seattle to join neighboring districts that have adopted similar resolutions. Sarah Sense Wilson, UNEA’s elected chair, said the resolution was co‑created with students, parents, elders and survivors and asked the board to “stand on the right side of history.”
A boarding‑school survivor, Sandra Lafontaine, described forced separations and urged the board to teach the history and fund supports. Other speakers urged the district to embed the subject in curriculum and to provide remembrance activities for students, families and staff.
During committee reports late in the meeting, Board President Topp acknowledged the testimony and said Seattle Public Schools had circulated resources for principals and that the Native American Education Department had materials available for all grades. He encouraged the community to learn about the issue and noted principals had received information about Orange Shirt Day resources.
Why it matters: Adopting a proclamation or curriculum guidance on boarding‑school history is a curriculum and community reconciliation step affecting Native students and families and aligns with other districts’ actions to remember boarding‑school survivors and educate students about the policy’s legacy.
What’s next: The board did not vote on a proclamation at the meeting. Board staff said resources had been distributed to principals and recommended that the district continue to work with UNEA and community advisors on implementation opportunities.
