Biden Makes Historic Apology for America’s Dark Legacy of Indigenous Boarding Schools
President Joe Biden will deliver a formal apology today for one of the darkest chapters in American history—the forced assimilation of Native American children through the boarding school system—at a watershed moment for Indigenous peoples across the country.
From 1869 to the 1960s, boarding schools forced over 18,000 Indigenous children away from their families. Some were as young as four years old. These institutions, often run by Christian churches, were part of a deliberate government policy to “civilize” Native Americans through cultural erasure.
“I’m doing something I should have done a long time ago,” Biden stated as he left the White House for Arizona. He expressed his intention to issue a formal apology to the Indian nations for the long-standing mistreatment of their children.
The scope of this tragedy is staggering. A recent Interior Department investigation uncovered nearly 1,000 deaths and 74 burial sites across more than 500 boarding school locations.
Children faced physical abuse and sexual violence and were banned from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions. Many children did not see their families again for years.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to lead the department and herself a descendant of boarding school survivors, spearheaded the investigation that led to this historic moment. “I would never have guessed in a million years that something like this would happen,” she remarked. “It’s a big deal to me. I’m sure it will be a big deal to all of Indian Country.”
The timing of this apology carries special weight. Biden will deliver his address at the Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, marking his first diplomatic visit to a tribal nation as president.
This gesture of reconciliation follows similar actions by other nations grappling with their colonial past. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have all issued formal apologies for their treatment of Indigenous peoples.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. highlighted the lasting impact of this policy: “Our children were made to live in a world that erased their identities, their culture, and upended their spoken language. Still today, nearly every Cherokee Nation citizen somehow feels the impact.”
The White House emphasizes that this apology, while significant, is just the beginning. “To usher in the next era of federal-tribal relationships, we need to fully acknowledge the harms of the past,” a spokesperson stated. The United Nations has classified such forced removal of children as an act of genocide.
Looking ahead, many Indigenous leaders and advocates hope this apology will lead to concrete action. Some push for a truth and reconciliation commission, similar to Canada’s model. Others focus on the ongoing work of repatriating remains and healing generational trauma.
As the nation faces this painful history, one thing is clear: today’s apology marks not an end but a beginning. It opens a new chapter in the relationship between the United States government and Native American nations—one built on acknowledgment, respect, and a commitment to genuine healing.
This historic moment reminds us that confronting past wrongs, while difficult, is essential for building a more just and inclusive future for all Americans.