Bill > HR4706

This resolution, passed by the Washington State House of Representatives, recognizes September 30th as "Every Child Matters Day" to acknowledge the historical trauma and ongoing suffering of Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in hundreds of Indian boarding schools across the United States until the 1960s. These schools, some of which operated within Washington state, aimed to culturally assimilate Indigenous children, leading to the destruction of their identities, traditions, and languages, and resulting in the deaths and unmarked burials of many children. The day, also known as "Orange Shirt Day" and originating from the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad whose orange shirt was confiscated on her first day at a boarding school, serves as a national day of remembrance to honor victims and survivors, encourage truth-telling about this shameful public policy, and promote reconciliation and healing. The resolution also commends efforts to identify and preserve primary resources documenting these boarding schools and the experiences of the children who attended them.