Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation

10/13/2026

We Want to Hear From You! ❤️

The Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation would love to hear your feedback about this year’s 36th Annual Recognition and Remembrance Day.

If you attended, participated, or supported this year’s event, we invite you to share your thoughts with us!

* What was most meaningful to you about this year’s event?

* What did you learn or take away from the experience?

* What would you like to see included in future Recognition and Remembrance Day events?

* How can we improve the experience for our honored guests, and survivors descendants?

Your feedback is important! It helps us understand the impact of our event, improve future gatherings, and support our grant reporting and continued efforts to preserve the history of the Genoa U.S. Indian School.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We appreciate your time, your voices, and your continued support of our mission.

Together, we remember. Together, we learn. Together, we heal.

Thank you for being part of our journey. ❤️

— Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation

10/02/2026

*Giving Young Voices a Place in Our History*

On September 26th, 2026 The Genoa Indian School Foundation's, Recognition and Remembrance Day Student Art Contest gave young people a meaningful opportunity to connect with a difficult and important part of our history. Through their artwork, students expressed powerful reflections on the experiences of the children who attended the Genoa Indian School and the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma that continue to impact many Native families and communities today. Their artwork also illustrated the journey of reconnection—a process that can feel like putting together pieces of a puzzle that have been separated across generations. Through stories, culture, family, identity, and remembrance, those pieces can begin to come together again. The students’ creativity reminds us that remembering is not simply about looking to the past; it is about understanding how that past continues to shape the present and helping future generations reclaim, reconnect, and carry these stories forward. Each piece gave a young voice to a history that must never be forgotten. 1st and 2nd Place were awarded to the 7th graders of Omaha Nation Public Schools and 3rd place was given to Leah Saunsoci of Walthill Public School.

Congratulations, students, and thank you for all the students who shared your artwork with us all!

10/01/2026

❤️ Thank you to everyone who helped make the 36th Annual Recognition and Remembrance Day a meaningful day of honoring and remembrance.

We are grateful to our presenters, descendants, scholarship recipients and former recipients, volunteers, Native artists and vendors, and everyone who contributed to this important gathering.

Throughout the day, we heard stories of former Genoa Indian School student descendants and their families, honored those who have passed, and learned more about the lasting impact of the boarding school experience. We were also honored to recognize our 2026 Wolfe Family Scholarship recipients, Georgia Blackwood and Tate Hanson, and hear from former scholarship recipients, Aaron LaPointe, Alexis Zendejas, and Kateri Hinman Petto about the importance of their education and using it towards their careers to help their Native communities.

The newly available Research Center provided another opportunity to connect with family histories and learn more about those who attended the Genoa Indian School.

We extend our sincere thanks to Humanities Nebraska and Ho-Chunk, Inc. for their generous support of this year’s event.

Most importantly, we are grateful to the descendants and families who continue to share these stories. Remembering the children who attended the Genoa Indian School and preserving their stories ensures that their experiences and legacies are not forgotten.

Please keep an eye out for a full list of names and event details and photos from the days event in our upcoming quarterly newsletter!

09/30/2026

Join communities across the country today, September 30th, Orange Shirt Day, in honoring survivors and raising awareness about the history and ongoing impacts of the Indian boarding school era. You can participate by wearing an orange shirt or by lighting your porch, home, workplace, or community space in orange.

The color orange has become a powerful symbol of remembrance, solidarity, and support for impacted communities. Thank you for taking the time to observe this important day and for helping to spread awareness.

09/24/2026

Come join us this Saturday, September 26th from 10am to 4pm.

GENOA, NEBRASKA — The Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation will host its 36th Annual Recognition and Remembrance Day on Saturday, 26 September 2026, bringing together former students, descendants, t…

09/22/2026

Join the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Domestic Violence Program for a training focusing on the effects of Indian Boarding Schools on Native communities and individuals. Visit https://ow.ly/eBSN50ZCJ17 to register.

09/16/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2026
Sherrie Catanach (Pueblo of Pojoaque), Director of Communications
National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
[email protected]
505.670.0035

Representative Teresa Leger Fernández Honors Indian Boarding School Relatives Ahead of September 30 Day of Remembrance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in recognition of the September 30 National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding School survivors, Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the Native children, families, survivors, and descendants impacted by the Indian boarding school system.

September 30 is a day to remember the children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, honor the survivors and relatives who continue to carry this history, and recognize the enduring impacts of Indian boarding school policies on Native peoples and Tribal communities.

In remarks on the House floor, Rep. Leger Fernández highlighted the importance of recognizing the National Day of Remembrance and the responsibility to continue pursuing truth, justice, and healing for those impacted by the federal Indian boarding school system.

“Across New Mexico, there were 52 Indian boarding schools where Native children were forced to relinquish their own indigenous heritage and language. I call upon my colleagues to support HR 7325 the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act to formally investigate, document, and report on boarding schools, their policies, and the generational effects on Native American peoples. We must support the healing of survivors, descendants, and tribal communities. Many of the children never returned home to their families or their communities. May they never be forgotten.”

— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, New Mexico - District 3
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) welcomes this recognition and emphasizes that remembrance must be accompanied by meaningful action.
For generations, Native families and communities have carried the consequences of a federal system that forcibly separated children from their families, communities, languages, cultures, and identities.
“September 30 is a day to remember our relatives and honor the survivors, families, and communities who have carried this history for generations,” said NABS Chief Executive Officer, Nikki Santos (Coeur d'Alene Tribe). “Remembrance gives us an opportunity to honor their lives, listen to their stories, and recommit ourselves to the work of truth and healing. We are grateful to see this history recognized on the House floor, and we must continue turning recognition into meaningful action for survivors, descendants, and Tribal communities.”

NABS encourages members of Congress to support H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act, as an important step toward advancing truth, justice, and healing.

Take Action

As September 30 approaches, NABS invites individuals, families, Tribal communities, organizations, educators, and allies to join in remembering and honoring Indian boarding school relatives.
There are many ways to participate, including learning about the history and ongoing impacts of Indian boarding school policies, creating space for remembrance, sharing resources with your community, and supporting efforts led by survivors, descendants, and Tribal communities. Visit the NABS Day of Remembrance Toolkit to help educate, commemorate, and engage your communities on September 30 and beyond.

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About the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition: The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) is dedicated to advocating for Native peoples impacted by U.S. Indian boarding schools. NABS seeks truth through education and research, justice through activism and policy advocacy, and healing through programs and traditional gatherings, boardingschoolhealing.org.

photo credit: C-SPAN

09/03/2026

Help Us Honor Our Guests on Recognition and Remembrance Day.

📍On September 26th, the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation will host its annual Recognition and Remembrance Day, a special event dedicated to honoring survivors, descendants, families, and supporters connected to the Genoa U.S. Indian School.

As we gather to remember the past, celebrate resilience, and strengthen community connections, we will provide a traditional Indian taco meal free for our honored guests. Sharing a meal is an important part of bringing people together and creating a welcoming space for reflection and healing.

Recognition and Remembrance Day offers an opportunity to acknowledge the experiences of those impacted by the Genoa U.S. Indian School and to honor their strength, perseverance, and legacy. Your donation will help provide a meal and support an atmosphere of hospitality, respect, and community healing.

Please consider giving today to help make this gathering possible. Whether your contribution is large or small, every donation makes a difference.

Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 382 Genoa, Nebraska 68640 or made online at our website: genoaindianschoolmuseum.org on our donations page.

08/24/2026

🗣 Calling all student artists! 🎨🖌

08/03/2026

The Genoa US Indian School Foundation, Inc. July 2026 Newsletter