President Biden: Official Apology For Boarding “School” Past
WARNING: This story addresses the trauma of residential and boarding schools. If you are need help, 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.
In a historic moment for the United States, a sitting President has made a groundbreaking visit to a tribal Nation to apologize and express regret for the horrific residential, industrial, and boarding school systems imposed upon Indigenous peoples.
For many, this is a first step toward healing generations who have suffered in the system designed to “kill the indian, save the child”. Because of a lack of education about this page in the US genocide of Indigenous people, it’s often seen as something to be buried in the distant past, however this system is only our recent past – and is a cornerstone of the many methods used to remove Indigenous children from their families and culture.
President Biden referred to federal boarding school policies as “a sin on our soul”. His historic apology was made delivered on the lands of the Akimel O’Ootham (Pima) people at the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix.
After 150 years, the government eventually stopped the program (of boarding schools) but never formally apologized. I formally apologize today as President of the United States of America for what we did. I apologize, apologize, apologize!
US President Joe Biden, 2024
This apology is long overdue and quite frankly there is no excuse this apology took 50 years to make. The pain that this has caused will always be a significant mark of shame.
In her speech transferring authority to President Biden, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, highlighted a “10-year national plan led by tribal leaders” aimed at revitalizing Native languages. This initiative addresses the painful legacy of a time when Indigenous children were beaten & tortured for speaking their native language.
Today is a day for remembering, but it’s also a day to celebrate our perseverance! In spite of everything that has happened, we are still here. We are here, healing our souls…. And we are still here doing our best to speak our languages, even if our parents were afraid to teach us. Thank you, Mr. President, for bringing us together.
US Secretary of The Interior, Deb Haaland
A note of clarity. It was rare for Indigenous children to be sent to a “school” anywhere near their territory. The whole point was to separate them from their families and culture entirely – often sending them hundreds of miles away so that even if they did attempt to escape, they did not know the territory or the people. Even those who were enrolled in “day schools” (mostly later 20th century and near their tribal lands), still had their language removed, their hair cut short, their culture demonized, and – in the process – an almost innate fear of their own people & culture instilled in them.
While it’s difficult to watch, everyone should view the film “Our Spirits Don’t Speak English” (it may be available on your streaming service, through the Producers link in the description, or at Amazon).