“I want a day that acknowledges the rich cultural heritage of all Indigenous people in our state,” said Montana Sen. Shane Morigeau, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

By 1900, 20,000 children were in Indian boarding schools. By 1925, that number had more than tripled, according to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

Joy Harjo, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation who serves as the U.S. Poet Laureate, is helping Montana State University celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.