It’s time for Page Two: news that might not make the front page on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Today is Orange Shirt Day, reminding us that Every Child Matters.
Orange Shirt Day was first observed in Canada in 2013. It is now recognized in many places in the U.S as well. Orange Shirt Day honors Indigenous children who were forced into residential and boarding schools. Many never returned home.
Orange Shirt Day began with the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken away from her on her first day at a residential school. Canada officially recognized September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, at least 2,800 named children, and another 1,600 unnamed children, died in the boarding schools from the late 1800s through the 1990s in Canada.
Alaska shares this dark history. A 2005 University of Alaska Anchorage study found that more than 2,000 Alaska Native students were enrolled in Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding schools during the 1960s. The Department of the Interior lists 21 federal boarding schools in Alaska. Adding in the private religious boarding schools brings the total number of boarding schools in Alaska to over 100.
The Eklutna Vocational School near Palmer was one such school. The Eklutna school was built in 1924 to house Indigenous children orphaned by the 1918 flu epidemic. By 1930, about 110 children lived there. A 1941 school newspaper described a fish camp where students trained in subsistence fishing and helped provide food. The dorms were built from salvaged Army materials and soon deteriorated. Funding ran short during World War II and by 1945 Congress ordered the school closed. Students were moved to army barracks in Seward and later to Mt. Edgecumbe. Historic photos of Eklutna Vocational School are available on the Chickaloon Village website.
The Chickaloon Tribe says many citizens of the Chickaloon Native Village grew up unable to speak Ahtna or practice traditions because of boarding schools. To heal, Katie Wade and Patricia Wade led the Tribe in founding the Ya Ne Dah Ah School in 1992. It reconnects tribal citizens with language and lifeways and strengthens cultural identity.
Listeners might enjoy Voices of the Mat-Su podcast Episode 23 “The Storytellers.” In it, cartoon artists Dimi Macheras of the Chickaloon Tribe and Casey Silver talk about their comic book series The Chickaloonies which draws from ancient tribal teachings. It’s available on the Voices of the Mat-Su website and on most podcast platforms.
The podcast series Voices of the Mat-Su came to a close in August. The two-year series was produced with a grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. Now it’s time to reflect on the impact and success of the podcast. And, we need your help. Please complete the short survey on your impressions of Voices of the Mat-Su by October 15th.
Congratulations to Colony High Principal Kristy Johnston named the Region 7 Principal of the Year, and Colony High Assistant Principal Peter Olson named the Region 7 Assistant Principal of the Year.
The School Board meets tomorrow at 6pm.
Page 2 is written by Emily Forstner and edited and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.