Every year on October 14th, students and staff at Arapahoe Schools come together to celebrate two important aspects of their community: their rich cultural heritage and the legacy of a Tribal Elder, Neiwoo Woxu’ Niibei (Grandma Lucy Willow). Neiwoo Lucy Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day are not just a mark on the calendar; it is a day when we honor the history and cultural identity of the students who attend this small school on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Central Wyoming.
Honoring Neiwoo Woxu’ Niibei
Grandma Lucy was passionate about education and an advocate for cultural identity; she emphasized the importance of students navigating two worlds. She often told students that her only regret in life was not receiving a high school diploma. In 2018, her 96th birthday, Fremont County School District 38 (the official name of our district) awarded her an honorary degree from Arapaho Charter High School, citing her lifelong dedication to sharing knowledge, history, and culture. The recognition also reminds us that the story of a life and legacy cannot be told only in a textbook.
More Than Just a Day
While the bigger conversation around Indigenous Peoples’ Day, known to many as Columbus Day, can be overshadowed by controversy—from debates over mascots and logos to the more serious discussions surrounding immigration status and Indigenous rights—Arapahoe Schools uses this occasion as a time of celebration. It’s a day dedicated to heritage, language, history, and cultural pride.
On October 14th, students are encouraged to express their identities openly—through using the Arapaho language, wearing traditional attire like moccasins and beadwork, wearing more of the contemporary ribbon skirts and shirts, and exploring their unique family and tribal histories. This celebration allows our students to feel comfortable and strong and fosters a sense of belonging. The day also includes an afternoon assembly honoring Neiwoo Lucy, which all students preK–12 attend.
A Mosaic of Tribal Histories
Indigenous Peoples’ Day should not just be important to schools with high Native American populations but to every school across the country. It is unfortunate to know that Native American history is often underrepresented in traditional classroom settings. If such history is addressed in U.S. History classes, it is typically presented in a diluted format, touching only briefly on key events around Thanksgiving, Indigenous People’s Day, and the more recent attention on the atrocities at Indian boarding schools.
This approach overlooks not only major events but the distinct histories, languages, and customs of each tribe. The uniqueness of individual tribes is often lost when it’s lumped into a broad umbrella of “Native History.” We work to counter this trend through our districtwide goal to educate, celebrate, and share each student’s unique heritage as well as dispelling misconceptions and stereotypes often perpetuated in popular media.
A Celebration of Strength
We intentionally shift the narrative. Rather than recalling the historical traumas and negative topics like racism, unemployment, and addiction rates, we celebrate the resilience and strength in our students’ DNA. Ultimately, we create a positive environment where students can feel confident in their identities.
Too often, I encounter questions about outdated stereotypes—like whether students still live in teepees or if their lives resemble portrayals in films like Dances With Wolves. These questions demonstrate the need for accurate historical representation and education about contemporary Native life.
As we recognize and celebrate our students and the legacy of Neiwoo Woxu’ Niibei on Monday, we will strive to empower our students to proudly embrace and share their history and culture with every given opportunity. Through education, meaningful conversations, and advocacy, our small school in rural Wyoming hopes that others across the country will see and understand a little more about Indigenous people, then and now.
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