This post first appeared on ICT. Read more here.
Editor’s note: WARNING: This story contains disturbing details about residential and boarding schools. If you are feeling triggered, here is a resource list for trauma responses from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition in the U.S. In Canada, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-866-925-4419.
Summary:
President Joe Biden issued a historic apology for the U.S.’s dark past with Indian boarding schools, acknowledging the harm caused to Native people, culture, and language. Despite the 150-year delay in formal apology, Biden expressed deep remorse for the government’s actions. The event, set in Gila River Indian Community, marked a significant moment in history, emphasizing the need for healing and reconciliation.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland also spoke, highlighting a 10-year national plan to revitalize Native languages. Survivors, tribal leaders, and elders praised the apology as a crucial first step but recognized the ongoing work required for healing. The event underscored the deep trauma endured by Native children in boarding schools and the need for continued efforts towards truth, healing, and reconciliation.
Reactions from survivors:
Survivors, including Matthew War Bonnet and James LaBelle, expressed gratitude for the apology while emphasizing the long road ahead for healing. Tribal leaders like Mark Macarro called the apology foundational but stressed the necessity for additional measures to address the lasting impacts of boarding schools.
The process of healing and reconciliation, as outlined by the Department of the Interior and recommendations from the investigative report on boarding schools, signifies a crucial step towards acknowledging the traumas of the past and building a path towards healing for Native communities.