Dega Day falls on 20 September each year. It is a day of remembrance, of gratitude, and of unity — a day when Dega people gather with family, friends and supporters to honour the men and women who stood for our people through the most difficult periods of our history.
We remember those who defended their villages, their families and their right to live with dignity. The leaders who spoke when speaking carried great risk. The soldiers and resistance members who endured hardship and separation from their families. The women who protected their children and communities through war, displacement and hunger. The elders who preserved our history when there was little opportunity to write it down. And those whose names may never appear in a history book, but whose sacrifices live on within our families. Among them are the men and women of FULRO and the broader Dega and Montagnard struggle for political rights, cultural identity, dignity and freedom.
It is also a day for gratitude to the friends and allies who stood beside our people: among them the American servicemen who lived, trained and fought alongside Montagnard communities during the war, whose friendships with many families did not end when it did, and the veterans, churches, organizations and individuals who helped Montagnard refugees rebuild their lives in North Carolina and elsewhere. And we remember our brothers and sisters who remain in the Central Highlands and across the world. Distance does not erase family.
Above all the day belongs to our young generation, who carry forward the languages, traditions and identity of the indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome — families, elders, veterans, and friends of the Dega people. If you have questions about the day, please get in touch.