"In 1997, the Montana Legislature designated the fourth Friday of September each year as American Indian Heritage Day. It is important to reflect on the history and meaning of this legislation. The reasoning is in law:

# Article X, section (1)2 of the constitution of Montana (1972) recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of Native Americans and commits the state in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity.

# The 1975 Legislature enacted House Joint Resolution 57, designating the fourth Friday in September of each year as Native American Indian Day. Despite the resolution, the knowledge of this important history and culture was gradually being lost to citizens of Montana, to the detriment of both the American Indian and non-Indian citizens.

In 1997, the Legislature specifically recognized that the history and culture of American Indians are an integral part of the history of the nation and Montana. The legislation further stated that '... all Montanans have an invaluable opportunity for cultural enrichment through contact with the culture and philosophy of American Indians.'"

Get the Story:
C. Adrian Heidenreich: Why American Indian Heritage Day matters to Montana (The Billings Gazette 9/23)