By Trish Svoboda
On June 13, Representatives Sharice Davids and Tom Cole, co-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, issued statements following the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce’s markup advancing their bipartisan bill, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024.
“I would not be here if not for the resilience of my ancestors and those who came before me — including my grandparents, who are survivors of federal Indian Boarding Schools,” said Congresswoman Sharice Davids, Member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. “I am glad my colleagues came together today to advance the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission, bringing survivors, federal partners, and Tribal leaders to the table to fully investigate what happened to our relatives and work towards a brighter path for the next seven generations.”
“Indian boarding schools have had devastating impacts on Native communities. Yet, for so many years, the true stories about what happened to these Native children are unknown,” said Congressman Tom Cole, Member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. “As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the longest-serving Native American in the House of Representatives, it is a priority of mine to properly represent our Indian communities in Congress. Therefore, I am committed to investigating the tragic abuses that occurred at these boarding schools and bringing light to this dark chapter in our nation’s history. This Commission will hopefully bring these communities one step closer to healing and peace for themselves, their families, and future generations, and I would like to thank Chairwoman Virginia Foxx for moving this bill through the legislative process.”
Earlier this year, Representatives Davids and Cole reintroduced the bipartisan Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024. This legislation aims to investigate, document, and address the histories and impacts of Indian boarding schools on Native communities. Davids and Cole advocate for uncovering abuses linked to an estimated 500 student deaths at these institutions. The bill has garnered support from several Native American organizations, seeking to acknowledge past injustices and foster healing across generations.
