Native American historian comments on U.S. apology for abusive boarding schools

EVANSTON, Ill. --- President Biden will deliver remarks in Arizona today apologizing for the federal government’s role in forcing Indigenous children into boarding schools, where many were abused and nearly 1,000 died.

Doug Kiel (citizen of Oneida Nation), an associate professor of history and a faculty fellow at the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern University, is available for media interviews on this historic event. They can be reached at doug.kiel@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at stephanie.kulke@northwestern.edu.

Quote from Professor Kiel
“By apologizing for the forced assimilation of Native American children in boarding schools, President Biden is making a significant acknowledgment of deep wounds impacting every Indigenous family in America. Building upon earlier apologies to Indigenous peoples from Presidents Clinton and Obama in 1993 and 2009, this moment underscores the urgent need to move beyond words. True healing demands dismantling colonial structures, returning stolen lands, honoring Indigenous sovereignty, fulfilling treaty obligations, and transforming symbolic gestures into concrete actions that address ongoing injustices and achieve meaningful reparative justice. Without such tangible steps, the apology risks remaining a symbolic gesture without fostering real accountability and justice.”