SC Oklahoma News

Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) have reintroduced the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024 in an effort to investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools and their long-term impacts on Native communities. The bipartisan bill aims to shed light on the abuses suffered by Native children and provide a pathway to healing for survivors and tribal families.

Congressman Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, emphasized the importance of bringing the truth to light. He stated, "For too long, the stories of Native children stripped of their heritage, families, and lives were hidden. We must bring the light of truth to this dark chapter in our nation’s history and establishing this commission is imperative to that."

Congresswoman Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, shared her personal connection to the issue, saying, "My grandparents are survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, but many other children never returned to their families or their communities. Those that did lost generations worth of cultural knowledge, stories, and traditions." She emphasized the need for a Truth and Healing Commission to investigate the experiences of Native children and work towards a brighter future.

The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024 would establish a formal commission to investigate the injustices of the federal government's Indian Boarding School Policies. This includes examining attempts to terminate Native cultures, religions, and languages, as well as assimilation practices and human rights violations. The commission would also develop recommendations for federal entities to aid in healing the historical and intergenerational trauma experienced by Native families and communities.

Additionally, the bill would provide a forum for victims to share their personal experiences tied to these human rights violations. It aims to give a voice to those who have been impacted by the boarding school policies and ensure their stories are heard and acknowledged.

The impact of Indian boarding schools is particularly significant in Oklahoma, where there were 76 federal Indian boarding schools, accounting for 19 percent of the total number of boarding schools across the nation. These schools often intentionally mixed more than 30 different tribes in an attempt to unsettle relations and prevent the speaking of common languages.

In Kansas, there were 14 federal Indian boarding schools, including the Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School in the Third District. The school operated from 1838 to 1862 and enrolled nearly 200 children at its largest. Today, it is preserved as the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site.

The bill has garnered endorsements from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). These organizations recognize the importance of seeking truth and healing for Native communities affected by boarding school policies.

With the reintroduction of the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024, Representatives Cole and Davids are taking a significant step towards addressing the injustices of the past and working towards a brighter future for Native communities. By establishing a formal commission and providing a platform for survivors to share their stories, this bipartisan bill seeks to bring healing and justice to those affected by the dark chapter in our nation's history.