973 Native Children Died in U.S. Boarding Schools

A federal investigative report reveals that at least 973 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children died while attending U.S. government-operated boarding schools between 1819 and 1969. The report, part of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative launched by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, highlights the traumatic impact of forced assimilation policies that stripped children of their native identities, languages, and cultures. The investigation uncovered marked and unmarked graves at 65 of the more than 400 schools and recommended a formal U.S. government apology. The findings follow extensive listening sessions with survivors who recounted severe abuse and neglect. The report underscores the enduring trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities and calls for investment in healing programs.