Biden’s Historic Apology for Indigenous Boarding School Policies A Step Towards Healing

On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a formal apology for the United States’ long-standing policy of forcibly separating Indigenous children from their families and placing them in federally backed boarding schools. This practice, which spanned over 150 years, aimed at forced assimilation and resulted in deep generational trauma within Native communities.

During his remarks, Biden stated, “I formally apologize as president of the United States of America for what we did. It’s long overdue.” This acknowledgment follows the findings of a comprehensive investigation that revealed the extent of the abuse and neglect suffered by Indigenous children in these institutions. The report identified at least 973 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children who died while attending these schools, alongside evidence of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who introduced Biden, emphasized the federal government’s failures: “It failed to violate our languages, our traditions, our life ways. It failed to destroy us because we persevered.” Her heartfelt comments resonated deeply with those affected by these policies, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous communities despite the systemic attempts to erase their cultures.

The investigation revealed 417 institutions across 37 states or then-territories operational between 1819 and 1969. It also confirmed at least 74 marked and unmarked burial sites at 65 school locations, underscoring the dark legacy of these boarding schools.

Biden’s apology comes more than two years after Pope Francis extended a similar apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for related abuses in Canada, where over 150,000 Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families. This parallel raises questions about the broader implications of such acknowledgments in the pursuit of justice for Indigenous peoples.

Alex White Plume, a 73-year-old former president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and boarding school survivor, expressed skepticism about the apology. “I don’t really see any way we could accept it, because it doesn’t change anything,” he said. White Plume called for more meaningful actions, emphasizing the need for reparations and the return of territories to restore Indigenous languages and cultural practices.

While Biden’s apology marks a significant moment in acknowledging past wrongs, many leaders within Indigenous communities stress the importance of actionable change. They seek investigations into historical injustices and a commitment to establishing processes that honor their rights and restore their heritage.

President Biden’s apology is a crucial step towards reconciliation, yet it highlights the ongoing need for genuine dialogue and reparative actions. As Indigenous communities continue to advocate for their rights and recognition, the focus must remain on meaningful reparations and the restoration of their cultural identity. The journey towards healing is far from over, but acknowledging the past is an essential starting point.