Davids, Cole Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Survivors of Indian Boarding Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, introduced a bipartisan House Resolution designating the week of September 27 through October 3, 2026, as Indian Boarding School "National Week of Remembrance."

The resolution aims to formally honor the thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities to attend government-funded and church-run Indian boarding schools, while acknowledging the enduring intergenerational trauma experienced by survivors and their descendants.

"I would not be here today if not for the strength and resilience of my ancestors, including my grandparents who survived federal Indian boarding schools," said Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Member of the Wisconsin Ho-Chunk Nation. "These boarding schools were explicitly designed to strip Indigenous children of their languages, cultures, and identities — causing harm that continues to ripple through Native families and communities today. Designating this week isn't just about acknowledging a dark chapter in our history; it is about honoring the survivors, remembering the children who never returned home, and committing to healing for future generations."

“For many years, Indian boarding schools were created to forcibly remove Native children from their homes, strip them of their heritage, and, sadly, in some cases, take their lives,” said Representative Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. “However, this history is not often spoken about or taught in curriculum. Recognizing this week as Indian Boarding School National Week of Remembrance can bring light to this dark chapter in our nation’s history. I would like to thank Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, who I co-chair the Congressional Native American Caucus with, for her work on this legislation, as it is critical that we remember and honor these boarding school survivors and those who did not make it home.”

Starting with the Indian Civilization Fund Act of 1819, the United States government enacted policies that established or funded more than 526 Indian boarding schools across 38 states. By 1926, an estimated 83 percent of Native American children were enrolled in these institutions, where physical, psychological, and spiritual abuse were widespread.

• Loss of Life and Unmarked Graves: Untold numbers of children died from disease, abuse, or while trying to escape. Recent ground-penetrating radar research has uncovered evidence of unmarked graves, off-campus cemeteries, and unrecorded casualties.
• Lasting Intergenerational Trauma: Studies show that survivors and their descendants experience disproportionate rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic health conditions, and intergenerational trauma stemming from the systematic disruption of Tribal family structures and cultural identity.
• State Impact: In Kansas alone, there were 14 federal Indian boarding schools — including the Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School in Fairway (now preserved as the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site in Kansas' Third District). In Oklahoma, 76 federal boarding schools operated, accounting for roughly 19 percent of all known boarding schools nationwide.

"The National Week of Remembrance calls on us to reflect on the history that forever changed our Native families, communities, and generations. We honor those who were taken from their families, survivors who carried the weight of the boarding school experience throughout their lives, and, with reverence, those who never returned to their homes," said Nikki Santos, Chief Executive Officer (Coeur d'Alene Tribe), National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS). "We honor the children. Their lives matter, and their stories and their truth belong in the history of this nation. Remembrance Week calls on all of us to ensure that experiences of Native children and families are never again forgotten or erased." 

This resolution builds directly on Davids and Cole's ongoing bipartisan work to address the history of federal assimilation policies. The co-chairs have also introduced the bipartisan Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act, legislation that would establish a formal federal commission to investigate, document, and report on the full extent of abuses and lingering impacts of Indian boarding school policies.

The full resolution text is available HERE.