In a historic address, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland acknowledged the profound trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples by federal Indian boarding schools, marking the first time a cabinet secretary has publicly addressed this dark chapter in American history. For over a century, these institutions forcibly removed tens of thousands of Indigenous children from their families, aiming to assimilate them and erase their cultures.

Haaland, whose own family experienced the boarding school system, emphasized the lasting impact of these policies on Indigenous communities. \"We all carry the trauma that these policies and these places inflicted,\" she stated, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous peoples who have persevered despite these efforts to eradicate their languages and traditions.

The Interior Department's Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative has been pivotal in uncovering the historical truths surrounding these schools. An investigative report released as part of this initiative revealed deliberate actions taken by the federal government to isolate Indigenous children from their families and cultures. Haaland called for concerted actions from the federal government and Congress to address these injustices.

In response to the findings, the administration is investing in the preservation of Native languages and developing a ten-year national plan guided by tribal leaders. This initiative aims to ensure that the stories of boarding school survivors are documented and shared, fostering understanding of the intergenerational trauma caused by these policies.

Haaland's remarks were part of a broader effort to heal and honor the experiences of survivors and their descendants. The administration is collaborating with various organizations to create an oral history collection that will serve as an educational resource, ensuring that the legacy of the boarding school system is not forgotten.

As the event concluded, Haaland expressed gratitude to those who have shared their stories and emphasized the importance of remembering the past while celebrating the resilience of Indigenous peoples. \"We are still here healing our souls and carrying the strength of those who came before us,\" she affirmed, committing to a shared future for Indigenous communities.