Biden Unveils National Monument to Honor Native American Boarding Schools in Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden officially designated the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Pennsylvania on Monday. This action highlights the historical oppression faced by Indigenous peoples at this institution and across the broader Native American boarding school system, noting the enduring effects of the abuses that occurred within those walls.

The announcement coincided with Biden’s fourth and final White House Tribal Nations Summit, during which he outlined several initiatives aimed at supporting tribal communities. His administration has consistently recognized and apologized for the federal government’s involvement in the Native American boarding school system, a legacy that inflicted severe harm on Indigenous populations throughout the United States. An investigative report from the Department of the Interior revealed that at least 973 Native children died while attending these institutions.

“By establishing the Carlisle Indian School as a national monument, we underscore what great nations do: We acknowledge our history, learn from it, and ensure it is remembered so that we never repeat it,” said Biden during his address at the Department of the Interior. “We remember to heal. That’s the purpose of memory.”

As the first off-reservation federal boarding school for Native children, Carlisle took in thousands of children from over 140 tribes, forcibly removed from their families. Officials at the school enforced strict rules, cutting children’s hair and prohibiting them from speaking their native languages while subjecting them to arduous labor requirements.

Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking earlier at the summit, emphasized the federal government’s historical underinvestment in Native communities. “For too long, we have underinvested in Native entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as in Native hospitals, schools, and infrastructure,” she stated, reaffirming that addressing these inequities remains a central priority for the Biden administration.

Harris highlighted efforts to assist Native entrepreneurs in accessing capital, noting over $1 billion invested in Native community banks. She acknowledged the challenges many Native entrepreneurs face, stressing that lack of access to capital, rather than a shortage of ideas or work ethic, often hinders potential success.

In a further commitment to tribal communities, the administration unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at revitalizing Native languages, addressing the detrimental impact of government policies that contributed to their decline. “We will work with tribes to support teachers, schools, and communities to help save Native languages from disappearing,” Biden affirmed. “This matters. It’s part of our heritage and identity as a nation.”

Last updated 3:38 p.m., Dec. 9, 2024