President Joe Biden delivered a formal apology to Indigenous communities for the historical role of the U.S. government in the Native American Boarding School system. Speaking at Gila River Crossing School near Phoenix, Biden addressed a crowd of Indigenous people, apologizing for the trauma caused by this policy, which forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families to assimilate them into Euro-American culture. The president acknowledged the longstanding harm inflicted by the boarding school era, noting it as a painful chapter in American history.
Biden’s apology marked a rare moment; he is the first sitting president in a decade to visit a Tribal Nation. The president acknowledged the boarding school system’s painful legacy and expressed regret that it took 150 years to formally recognize the wrongs committed against Indigenous people. Biden’s speech received a warm response from the audience, including boarding school survivors and their descendants, who welcomed the apology.
Secretary Deb Haaland’s Address on Historic Trauma and Resilience
Before Biden’s speech, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, herself a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, shared the impact of the federal boarding school system. Haaland spoke of the immense trauma that boarding schools imposed on Indigenous families, communities, and cultural heritage. The recently concluded federal investigation into Native American boarding schools, led by Haaland, uncovered over 400 schools across the United States and documented severe abuses.
Haaland emphasized the resilience of Indigenous communities, who preserved their traditions despite the government’s efforts to eradicate them. She also outlined ongoing efforts by the Department of Interior to preserve Native languages and cultural heritage, highlighting partnerships with Indigenous organizations.
Indigenous Leaders Seek Continued Support for Healing and Cultural Preservation
Following the apology, Indigenous leaders expressed hope that it would increase investment in education, mental health, and cultural preservation for Indigenous communities. Many urged the federal government to take further action to support healing and restitution efforts, including returning the remains of children who perished in boarding schools to their families and revitalizing Indigenous languages and traditions.
Source:
Forced assimilation and abuse: How US boarding schools devastated Native American tribes
Photo by Tyler Horne on Unsplash
About Post Author
