Report: Over 973 Indigenous children died in US boarding schools.

The Interior Department’s recent revelation of the tragic deaths of 973 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children in federally operated or supported schools has shed light on a dark chapter in American history.

Secretary Deb Haaland’s investigation, launched in June 2021, uncovered 417 institutions across 37 states, with at least 74 burial sites at 65 school locations. The report detailed how the US government allocated over $23 billion from 1871 to 1969 to support these schools and their assimilationist policies.

Secretary Haaland highlighted the deliberate efforts of federal Indian boarding school policies to strip children of their identities, languages, and family connections.

The report’s eight key recommendations, including issuing a formal apology, investing in remedies for current impacts, and establishing a national memorial, aim to address the painful legacy of these schools. It is a sobering reminder of the harm caused by systemic policies that sought to erase Indigenous cultures and identities.