Dear Colleagues,

On September 30, 2024, UNLV commemorated the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools for the first time. This day honors the children, families, and communities affected by the federal Indian boarding school system and affirms UNLV’s ongoing commitment to healing and partnership with Indigenous communities. 

The following proclamation was presented during the National Day of Remembrance campus ceremony by Acting Executive Vice President and Provost Kate Korgan, alongside Tammi Tiger, Director of the Tribal Education Initiative, to Kutoven Stevens and his family.

Sincerely,

Kate Korgan
Acting Executive Vice President and Provost

PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING SEPT. 30 AS NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR U.S. INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS

WHEREAS, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) recognizes and respects
Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land, now known as the United States of
America (U.S.A.), and their enduring relationship that has existed since time immemorial; and

WHEREAS, Nevada is home to 21 federally recognized Tribes comprising 28 Tribal
Bands, councils, and communities within the Great Basin and Mojave desert; and

WHEREAS, UNLV recognizes that Nevada is the chosen home to over 60,000 Urban Natives
of Tribal Nations from all over the U.S.A. who contribute to the cultural diversity of our
population; and

WHEREAS, UNLV acknowledges that the university sits on the traditional lands of the Southern
Paiute who continue to prosper today as the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and the Moapa Band of
Paiutes Tribe; and values their deep cultural connection that has shaped the character of this
region; and

WHEREAS, UNLV observes Sept. 30 as the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, and honors and remembers the lives of Native children who were taken from their families and never returned; and

WHEREAS, UNLV stands in solidarity with the survivors, their families, and Tribal Nations still healing from the generational trauma caused by the U.S. Indian Boarding School system, where children were forcibly removed from their homes and communities and suffered abuse and neglect, with thousands of children losing their lives and many others left with lifelong scars; and

WHEREAS, UNLV recognizes the survivors and descendants of the Stewart Indian School, one of three boarding schools in Nevada operated by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, UNLV collectively acknowledges this painful period in U.S. and Nevada history and supports organizations like the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition’s calls for awareness and education about the historic and lasting impact of the system; and

WHEREAS, UNLV honors Kutoven Stevens, citizen of the Yerington Paiute Tribe, and his family, for their strength and resilience in sharing their story and for driving awareness of this period in our nation’s history and for supporting initiatives that help Native communities heal.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, President Chris Heavey and Executive Vice President and Provost Kate Korgan, on behalf of UNLV, formally recognize the university’s commemoration of Sept. 30 as the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools in honor and remembrance of all who were affected and who continue to work to educate the people of Nevada and the nation.