Oklahomans react to President Biden's long-awaited apology for Indian boarding school policy
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — President Joe Biden apologizing for the country’s role in forcing Indigenous children for over 150 years into boarding schools, where many were physically, emotionally and sexually abused, and nearly a thousand died.
"After 150 years, the United States government eventually stopped the program, but the federal government has never, never formally apologized for what happened until today. I formally apologize as President of the United States of America for what we did," said President Biden.
Native Americans say this apology is historic and long overdue.
"Boarding schools have impacted so many generations of native communities and so I think everyone is so grateful to see the federal government taking responsibility to help move us towards this path of healing," said Dr. Kelli Mosteller, executive director, First Americans Museum.
This is the first time the federal government has apologized for forcing tens of thousands of children into assimilation boarding schools.
Oklahoma was home to 87 of them.
"The philosophy and this was an actual quote from federal officials is kill the Indian, save the man. In other words, kill the culture, save what's left of the humanity that was valued by society," said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., The Cherokee Nation.
News 4 heard from several survivors during a listening session when Interior Secretary Deb Haaland came to Oklahoma in 2022.
"What they did to us makes you feel so inferior that you don't feel worthy of anything," said one survivor.
Another survivor explained what the boarding school was like for him.
"I spent twelve years in this hell hole and that's what it was like. Hell," said another survivor.
Still today, nearly everyone in Indian Country has a painful story to tell.
"My own great grandfather, who I'm named after, was taken to a boarding school. I have worked at institutions where I have seen the impact of this. I have worked with young students who are grappling with the fact that their grandparents were raised in these boarding schools and what that means to them," said Dr. Mosteller.
Oklahoma is still home to Native American schools with the focus now on preserving and honoring their culture.
"We have about 1,500 first language fluent speakers left, many from that generation. we are moving Heaven and Earth and putting a lot of resources into rebuilding that." said Chief Hoskin Jr.
The Cherokee Nation says the President's apology is only the first step.
President Biden's apology for the boarding schools comes before a critical election, where Democrats are counting on support from the Native American community.
However, Hoskin Jr. says today's apology is not a partisan issue and should be the way the country operates moving forward.