Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota): ‘This isn’t ancient history’

Indianz.Com > News > Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota): ‘This isn’t ancient history’

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota). Photo: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Statement from U.S. Senator Tina Smith on President Biden’s historic apology to Native Peoples for federal Indian boarding schools

Friday, October 25, 2024

Indianz.Com

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to President Biden issuing a formal apology for the federal government’s policy of forcing Indigenous children for over 150 years into boarding schools:

“For over 100 years it was the official policy of the United States to forcibly separate Native children from their families and Tribes and remove them to boarding schools run by the government and religious institutions. These children, some barely more than toddlers, were stripped of their language, culture, and family and Tribal ties. Many children were physically and emotionally abused, and many died. This isn’t ancient history; this was the policy of the federal government until the 1960s.

“This unspeakable tragedy is not well understood by most Americans, even as impacts of this trauma and injury live on to this day. This is why it is so important that President Biden is formally apologizing to Native peoples for this great injustice. This apology would not have happened without the leadership of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, whose own grandparents were stolen and taken away to boarding schools.

“I live in Minneapolis, the birthplace of the American Indian Movement, and home of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. I was blessed to visit the Coalition with Secretary Haaland and Lt. Governor Flanagan and hear the stories of survivors of boarding schools. The incredible resilience of Native peoples, even as the United States government tried to erase and eradicate their identities, is deeply inspiring.

“My hope is that President Biden’s formal apology on behalf of the United States will be an occasion for more Americans to understand this tragedy and continue down the path of healing. And, it is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and deepen our respect for our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.”

For over 100 years it was the official policy of the United States to forcibly separate Native children from their families and Tribes and remove them to boarding schools. These children were stripped of their language, culture, and family and Tribal ties. https://t.co/rg8190UDs6
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024

Many children were physically and emotionally abused, and many died. This isn’t ancient history; this was the policy of the federal government until the 1960s.

This unspeakable tragedy is not well understood by most Americans, even as impacts of this trauma live on to this day.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024

This is why it is so important that President Biden is formally apologizing to Native peoples for this great injustice. This apology would not have happened without the leadership of @SecDebHaaland, whose own grandparents were stolen and taken away to boarding schools.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024

I live in Minneapolis, the birthplace of the American Indian Movement, and home of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. I was blessed to visit the Coalition with @SecDebHaaland and @LtGovFlanagan, and hear the stories of survivors of boarding schools.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024

The incredible resilience of Native peoples, even as the United States government tried to erase and eradicate their identities, is deeply inspiring.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024

My hope is that POTUS’s formal apology will help us continue down the path of healing.

And, it is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and deepen our respect for our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) October 25, 2024