The Nebraska State Capitol will be bathed in orange light Thursday to remember and honor the survivors and descendants of the Genoa Industrial School.

The Nebraska Legislature designated February 20 as an annual day of remembrance for those impacted by the Genoa boarding school, which was part of a federal policy aimed at forcibly assimilating Native American children into Western culture. The Genoa Indian Industrial School operated from 1884 to 1934.

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The color orange is now associated with Indian boarding schools, and symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and identity experienced by Native American children who attended the schools.

“The lighting of the Capitol in orange … acknowledges the painful legacy of forced assimilation, while also honoring the strength, resilience, and courage of those who survived, as well as their descendants,” said Judi Gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs in a press release.

Daryl Bohac, who was recently appointed director of the Nebraska State Historical Society, said the lighting is “a visible commitment to understanding and honoring this tragic part of Nebraska history, as well as an invitation for all Nebraskans to engage in dialogue and reflection.”

The Commission on Indian Affairs and the State Historical Society are continuing to investigate and document the lives of children who died at the Genoa Industrial School and were buried on its grounds.

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