Davids, Cole Remark on President Biden’s Apology for Nation’s Past Policies Around Indian Boarding Schools

Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Co-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, gave the following response to President Biden’s remarks on the country’s previous policies around Indian boarding schools.

"My grandparents are survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, but too many were torn apart, losing generations of culture, stories, and tradition,” saidDavids. “I'm thankful to President Biden and Secretary Haaland for their work investigating the full extent of these crimes against Indigenous communities and ensuring our federal government upholds its promises and obligations to Indian Country."

“Indian boarding schools have had devastating impacts on Native communities. Yet, for so many years, the true stories about what happened to these Native children have not been spoken about,” said Congressman Cole. “As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and one of the few Native American members of Congress, I am very glad to see accountability being taken for the role that federal policies played in the Native American boarding school system.”

Earlier this year, Davids and Cole reintroduced the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024—legislation to investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools, Indian boarding school policies, and long-term impacts on Native communities. Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and one of the first two Native women elected to Congress, and Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and long-serving Native American in the U.S. House of Representatives, remain committed to investigating the abuses at these institutions. 

The bipartisan Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024 would:

• Establish a formal commission to investigate, document, and acknowledge past injustices of the federal government’s Indian Boarding School Policies.
• This includes attempts to terminate Native cultures, religions, and languages; assimilation practices; and human rights violations.
• Develop recommendations for federal entities to aid in healing the historical and intergenerational trauma passed down in Native families and communities.
• Provide a forum for victims to speak about personal experiences tied to these human rights violations.

This bill has been endorsed by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Indian Education Association (NIEA), American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB).