US President Joe Biden will formally apologise to the Native American community for the atrocities of a 150 year Indian boarding school policy that aimed to culturally assimilate indigenous children.
The US president is scheduled to issue the apology from Arizona on Friday.
“I’m heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago – make a formal apology to the Indian nations for the way we treated their children for so many years, ” Biden told reporters on Thursday.
The federal government established Indian boarding schools from 1819 through the 1970s that forcibly removed children from their homes and families.The boarding schools stripped indigenous children of their heritage and tried to assimilate Alaska Native, American Indian and Native Hawaiian children into white American culture.
There were more than 523 government-funded Indian boarding schools throughout the US in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Many of these schools were run by churches.Tens of thousands of children were forcibly abducted by the government and sent to schools far from their homes. Indigenous children often faced emotional and physical abuse, including being beaten and starved when speaking their native languages.
In some cases, children died and never returned home.Under the Biden administration, the US Department of Interior launched its first-ever federal investigation of the Indian boarding school system to address its painful history.Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, led a “Road to Healing” tour in 2023 to speak with indigenous survivors.
The Department of Interior also launched an oral history project to document the experience of survivors.Biden’s apology comes less than two weeks before the presidential election.He is scheduled to deliver the announcement at the tribally-controlled Gila Crossing Community School outside of Phoenix, the Washington Post reported.
It marks the first time a US president will address the suffering of indigenous children from the boarding school system.In Canada, which had a similar policy in place, the prime minister apologised in 2008 for forcing about 150,000 indigenous children to attend state-funded Christian boarding schools.
The government also launched a truth and reconciliation commission that documented the history of the country’s residential school system.
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A Painful History Resurfaces
The U.S. government’s establishment of Indian boarding schools began with the stated goal of assimilating Native American children into European-American culture. Children were often taken from their families against their will and placed in distant boarding schools, where harsh punishments were meted out for practicing cultural customs or speaking their native languages.
Over the years, accounts of abuse, neglect, and trauma endured by children at these schools have surfaced. Survivors have spoken out about physical, emotional, and cultural harm, shedding light on how the boarding school era disrupted Indigenous families and communities. Recently, many of these stories have come to wider public attention through investigative efforts, community advocacy, and global movements urging accountability for similar schools in Canada and elsewhere.
In a symbolic gesture of justice, Biden’s apology will not only acknowledge the government’s role in creating these schools but also recognize the lasting pain and resilience of Indigenous communities.
Biden’s Commitment to Indigenous Communities
President Biden’s forthcoming apology marks one of the most direct acknowledgments by a sitting president of the federal government’s role in the oppression of Indigenous communities. Biden has previously worked to elevate Indigenous rights and representation, including his historic nomination of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position. Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, has been instrumental in pushing for a national investigation into Indian boarding schools and has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous communities.
Haaland’s Department of the Interior launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative in 2021, documenting the locations and conditions of these institutions and uncovering stories from families impacted by the boarding school system. The initiative, which has released initial findings highlighting more than 400 schools across the U.S., has brought further attention to this painful legacy and has called for resources to support the healing of affected communities.
Mixed Reactions to the Apology
The anticipated apology is already drawing a range of responses from Indigenous leaders, advocacy groups, and the public. Many see it as a significant and necessary step toward accountability and healing, expressing hope that it will foster dialogue, understanding, and tangible change. Others, however, feel that an apology alone falls short of addressing the deeper harms, calling for reparations, community investment, and direct support for Indigenous communities affected by generational trauma.
Indigenous leaders and advocates have also emphasized that this moment should serve as a catalyst for further action. Suggested measures include expanding funding for mental health services in Indigenous communities, preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages, and supporting land reclamation and sovereignty efforts.
“Words are important, but actions matter more,” said one Native leader. “We need this acknowledgment to lead to real changes that empower Indigenous people and protect our future generations.”
The Path Forward: Toward Reconciliation and Healing
While Biden’s apology represents a historic acknowledgment, many hope it will serve as the foundation for continued efforts to address the injustices experienced by Indigenous communities. This includes preserving and sharing the histories of those affected, increasing educational support for Indigenous youth, and ensuring policy changes that uphold the rights and sovereignty of Native nations.
As Biden’s administration looks to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities, this apology, combined with future commitments and policy initiatives, has the potential to serve as a turning point. In a nation still grappling with the impact of its colonial history, acknowledging the boarding school legacy is a step toward healing—one that is long overdue but deeply necessary.
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