On Friday, President Joe Biden did something no other sitting U. S. president has ever done: he apologized for the brutal treatment of Indigenous children in boarding schools. For 150 years, the U. S. government took children away from their homes and families, forcing them into schools where they were stripped of their cultures and languages. These schools were designed to assimilate Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children and to take away their land.

"We should be ashamed, " Biden said to a crowd of Indigenous people in Arizona. He called the system "one of the most horrific chapters in American history. " Many Native Americans welcomed the apology, seeing it as an acknowledgment of the government's role in the abuse. However, they emphasized that words must be followed by action.

Bill Hall, now 71, was just 9 when he was taken from his Tlingit community in Alaska. He endured years of physical and sexual abuse in a boarding school, leading to a lifetime of shame. When he heard about Biden's apology, he wasn't sure he could accept it. But as he watched, he felt tears and finally accepted the apology. Now, he and others want to know what steps will be taken next.

Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier, a 79-year-old citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, also felt a mix of emotions. She suffered severe mistreatment in a South Dakota school that left her with a lifelong limp. The school tried to erase her Lakota identity by cutting off her braids. "Sorry is not enough, " she said. "A whole generation of people and our future was destroyed for us. "

The Interior Department investigation, launched by Secretary Deb Haaland, documented over 18, 000 cases of Indigenous children in these schools. The report recommended resources for mental health treatment and language revitalization programs. Biden has pledged to make good on these recommendations, setting a framework to address past policies.

Many leaders and survivors emphasized that the apology must be followed by meaningful actions. This includes revitalizing languages and cultures, returning the remains of children who died in these schools, and establishing a truth and healing commission.

As Biden spoke, tribal members stood up, cheering and recording the moment. There was a mix of traditional garments and shirts supporting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, there's a long road ahead, and some worry that healing will take generations.

President Biden Apologizes for Boarding School Abuse, Native Americans Demand Action

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