Support Truth & Healing for Native Communities

I am writing to urge your support for the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S.1723/H.R.7227). This crucial legislation seeks to address the legacy of federal Indian boarding schools that forcibly assimilated Native American children, often subjecting them to abuse and cultural erasure. These policies inflicted profound intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Native communities today. Maryland’s own history intersects with these injustices. In 1634, early Jesuit missions in the state began the process of separating Indigenous children from their families to "educate" them in ways that suppressed their culture and language. These efforts, though predating federal boarding schools, laid a foundation for the destructive assimilation policies that would follow nationwide. Today, the effects of these policies persist in Native communities across the country, including Maryland. Families continue to grapple with cultural disconnection, loss of language, and the ripple effects of historical trauma. The Department of the Interior’s in of Native The Department of the Interior’s investigative reports in 2024 reve aled that hundreds of Native children died at boarding schools, with many buried in unmarked graves—a stark remin der of the need for accountability and healing. As leaders with deep commitments to justice, your support for this legislation could make an extraordinary impact: Senator Cardin, your work highlighting health disparities among minority groups, including Native Americans, and your acknowledgment of the harm caused by forced assimilation in your Indigenous Peoples’ Day statements, show your commitment to equity. Senator Van Hollen, your advocacy for urban Native American populations and focus on improving access to healthcare through the Indian Health Service exe mplify the leadership needed to confront this issue. this cause. Your voice on systemic injustices can amplify the importance of addressing the legacy of Indian boarding schools. Representative Mfume, your lifetime of civil rights advocacy, particularly through your leadership at the NAACP, positions you as a key ally in advancing nor survivors and their families, and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation. The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act represents a vital opportunity to uncover the full extent of these injustices, ho Maryland has a chance to be part of this healing process, acknowledging our own historical role while supporting Native communities nationwide. Native American communities. I strongly urge you to support this legislation and advocate for its swift passage. Together, we can take a critical step toward justice and healing for Thank you for your leadership and commitment to equity.