Orange Shirt Day:

Building Awareness, Belonging, and Student Success

Armen Karamanian, Director, Culture & Student Inclusion

Each year, our school community comes together to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the message that Every Child Matters. What began as an opportunity to raise awareness has grown into an increasingly meaningful tradition across our 106 school sites and numerous departments.

Since 2022, participation in Orange Shirt Day activities has increased each year, reflecting greater awareness and engagement among students, staff, families, and the broader school community. Seeing more people wear orange, participate in activities, and learn about the significance behind the day demonstrates our growing commitment to recognizing Native American history and the experiences of Indigenous peoples.

Orange Shirt Day provides an important opportunity to learn about the history and lasting impact of Indian boarding schools, while also recognizing the strength, resilience, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities. Expanding this awareness helps our schools create learning environments where Native students see their histories, cultures, and identities acknowledged and respected.

For our Native students, representation and inclusion matter. When students feel that they belong at school and that their culture is valued, we strengthen the relationships and sense of connection that support their educational experience. Creating welcoming and culturally responsive school environments is an important part of supporting student engagement, attendance, academic achievement, and overall success.

The continued growth of Orange Shirt Day since 2022 is more than an increase in participation. It represents greater awareness, stronger connections, and an ongoing commitment to ensuring our Native students feel seen, included, and supported at every school site.

As participation continues to grow, so does our opportunity to learn from the past, celebrate Native American cultures and contributions, and build school communities where Every Child Matters—not just on Orange Shirt Day, but every day.

Orange Shirt Day 2025-26

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Fresno Unified School District gathered to honor the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools. During this time we had Rena Picaso (Choinumni Tribe East of the Kings River) open our event by sharing traditional songs. We also had community partners in support: Fresno City College Resources for American Indian Needs Program (RAIN), Fresno City College Native American Intertribal Student Association (NAISA), Fresno American Indian Health Project (FAIHP), and Fresno State Neum Native American Student Association (NASA).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange Shirt Day 2024-25 

On Monday, September 30, 2024, the district commemorated the life-changing and disastrous effects of the U.S. Indian boarding school policy and Indian Residential school system on Native American peoples and communities across the United States and Canada by standing with our Native Communities as allies in the process of truth and reconciliation. School sites across the district, departments, and district offices commemorated the event by wearing the symbolic orange t-shirt and holding educational activities and programs. 

 

Orange Shirt Day 2023-24

Orange Shirt Day is observed on September 30th to acknowledge and reconcile the negative impacts that the Indian boarding school policy and Indian Residential school system had on Indigenous communities. Fresno Unified staff and students showed support for our Native American communities by wearing orange shirts and taking part in activities and lessons on the day.

Orange Shirt Day 2022-23

Orange Shirt Day was observed for the first time by Fresno Unified School District on Friday, September 30, 2022. Staff from the District Office met outside the Education Center for a group photo, followed by activities and a chance to view books on the topic of Orange Shirt Day. 

By wearing an orange shirt on September 30th, you commit to the enduring truth that EVERY CHILD MATTERS, every day and everywhere. Learn more about the story of why we wear orange at orangeshirtday.org.

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) is the first and only national organization whose purpose is to advocate on behalf of Native peoples impacted by U.S. Indian boarding school policies. They seek truth through education and research, justice through activism and policy advocacy, and healing through programs and traditional gatherings. Learn more about the healing work they do and subscribe to their newsletter to stay informed at boardingschoolhealing.org.

In June 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive effort to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies with the goal of addressing their intergenerational impact and to shed light on the traumas of the past. For more information regarding the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, visit bia.gov/service/federal-indian-boarding-school-initiative.