Acknowledging a Painful Legacy: The New Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
This week marked a significant step in addressing historical injustices as President Biden announced the designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Pennsylvania. This recognition highlights the longstanding trauma suffered by Indigenous communities across the United States, including Arizona.
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition reports that Arizona once hosted 59 boarding schools, ranking second only to Oklahoma, which had 95. These institutions were primarily located in rural areas across the Navajo and Hopi nations, with some in urban centers like Phoenix and Tucson.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the ongoing impact of these schools, stating, “No single action by the federal government can adequately reconcile the trauma and ongoing harms from the federal Indian boarding school era.” The Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to confronting and addressing the legacy of these assimilation policies is seen as making a positive impact on Indian Country.
For over a century, Native children were often taken from their families, sometimes forcibly, to attend these schools aimed at assimilating them into white culture. Many suffered emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. While nearly 1,000 children are confirmed to have died, the true toll is likely significantly higher.
Secretary Haaland, whose own family members were subjected to this system, initiated an effort in 2021 to bring the history of these boarding schools to light. President Biden furthered these efforts with a formal apology to the Gila River Indian Community for the federal government’s role.
The Indian boarding school system, which began in 1819 with the Indian Civilization Act, eventually grew to include over 400 facilities across 37 states.
Spanning 24.5 acres, the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument will be overseen by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Army, becoming the 432nd site within the national park system.
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