FARGO, N.D. — At its Sept. 4 meeting the Fargo Native American Commission unanimously recommended that the City of Fargo issue a proclamation recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day (Orange Shirt Day) on Sept. 30, 2025.

Commission member Daniel Fry moved the recommendation; Suzanne Censke seconded. Chair Ashley Littlewolf called for the ayes and the motion carried by voice vote.

Commission staff noted that the commission has advocated for a joint proclamation with neighboring jurisdictions for the past two years and that the city previously issued a Savannah Greywind Day proclamation in August and formally recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day by resolution in 2015.

Nicole, the city staff liaison, described the intent of the recognition: "Savannah's life and tragic death call attention to the need for missing and murdered indigenous women's awareness and justice initiatives," she said. The commission screened or referenced a short educational video created in 2023 by Dr. Emily Sargent and former chair Whitney Johnson explaining the origins of Orange Shirt Day and the boarding-school survivor narrative that inspired it.

The motion asks the City of Fargo to issue the proclamation to coincide with educational programming on Sept. 30. The commission also noted Indigenous Peoples' Day programming set for Oct. 13, 2025, including the Gladys Rae Award presentation and a housing resource fair.