CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Councilmember Annalisa Perea
_________________________________________ ___________________________________________ JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember District 1 _________________________________________ ___________________________________________ NELSON ESPARZA, Council President TYLER MAXWELL, Council Vice President
__________________________________________ ___________________________________________ MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember District 2 MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ BRANDON VANG, Councilmember District 5 NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember District 6
WHEREAS, Orange Shirt Day is observed annually to honor Indigenous children who were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend residential and boarding schools, while recognizing the lasting impact these institutions have had on generations of Indigenous peoples; and WHEREAS, the orange shirt has become a symbol of remembrance and recognition, inspired by the experience of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her when she arrived at a residential school as a child, and whose story helped inspire the message that every child matters; and WHEREAS, generations of Native American children experienced separation from their families, suppression of their languages and cultures, and abuse through government-supported boarding school policies intended to assimilate Indigenous peoples and disrupt their traditional ways of life; and WHEREAS, the effects of these policies continue to be felt by Native families and communities today, making it important to acknowledge this history, honor survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples; and WHEREAS, Orange Shirt Day provides an opportunity for the Fresno community to listen to Indigenous voices, learn about the history and legacy of residential and boarding schools, and support the continued preservation of Native languages, cultures, traditions, and communities; and WHEREAS, the City of Fresno stands with Native American and Indigenous communities in honoring survivors, their families, their ancestors, and future generations while affirming the dignity and value of every Indigenous child.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry P. Dyer, Councilmember Annalisa Perea, and the Fresno City Councilmembers, encourage residents to honor survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the enduring strength and resilience of Native American and Indigenous peoples, and do hereby proclaim Thursday, September 17, 2026, to be:
“Orange Shirt Day”
in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, on this 17th day of September 2026.