“Kill the Indian, Save the Man”: Biden’s Apology for Forced Assimilation
US President Joe Biden is set to deliver a historic and solemn apology on Thursday for the forced removal of Native American children from their families and placement in government-run boarding schools—a chapter he called one of the “darkest” in American history.
These schools, often operated in conjunction with religious institutions from the 1800s to the 1970s, aimed to erase Native culture and assimilate children into European settler norms, including conversion to Christianity.
In a stark acknowledgment of the abuses Native American children faced, Biden plans to address the painful legacy of these schools during a speech at the Gila River Indian Community in Laveen Village, Arizona, at 1730 GMT.
“The Federal Indian Boarding School Era is one of the darkest chapters of American history,” Biden expressed on social media ahead of his address, adding, “We must remember our full history, even when it’s painful.”
A recent federal investigation revealed heart-wrenching stories of physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with the documented deaths of nearly a thousand children. The apology represents a rare presidential acknowledgment, joined by Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a U.S. cabinet secretary. The Biden administration has taken strides to invest in and support Native communities, including expanding Tribal autonomy and preserving sacred lands.
The legacy of the boarding schools echoes a broader trend of government apologies for past wrongs. While Reagan addressed reparations for Japanese Americans detained during World War II, and Obama acknowledged the devastation of Hiroshima, Biden’s apology for Native American boarding schools reflects a growing commitment to confront and reconcile with America’s complex history.
ALSO READ;“Siku hizi mimi siongei jameni, but I just want to wish peace and unity on all Kenyans; Uhuru Calls
“Kill the Indian, Save the Man”: Biden’s Apology for Forced Assimilation
