1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Despite the harsh realities of the Indian boarding school system in the United States, we have an opportunity to seek truth, healing, and reconciliation through the proposed Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. This bipartisan legislation would establish a comprehensive commission to investigate the scope and impacts of this tragic chapter in our nation's history. For over a century, hundreds of thousands of Native children were forcibly removed from their families, communities, and cultures through the boarding school system – a deliberate effort at cultural assimilation and eradication. The repercussions have been severe, with generational trauma, loss of language and traditions, and human rights abuses that have gone largely unaccounted for. By locating and analyzing records from the 523 known boarding schools, hearing directly from survivors, and engaging tribal representatives and experts, this commission would shed light on the staggering number of children affected, those who faced abuse or went missing, and the lasting impacts on Native communities. This truth-seeking process is long overdue and vital for promoting understanding, atonement, and healing. The time to act is now, before more survivors' voices are lost to time. Establishing this commission through federal legislation demonstrates our commitment as a nation to confront an injustice, honor those who endured the boarding school experience, and mark a pivotal step towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. I urge you to support the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act and help facilitate this crucial process of truth, healing, and reckoning with our past.