For generations, Indigenous advocates and leaders across the United States have tirelessly championed the establishment of a federal commission dedicated to documenting the harrowing testimonies of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals who endured the assimilationist policies of boarding schools funded and managed by the U.S. federal government and various religious institutions. This pivotal endeavor marks a significant step towards national reckoning, mirroring similar truth-telling and reconciliation efforts undertaken in Canada, Australia, and other nations grappling with the legacies of colonial-era injustices against Indigenous peoples. The proposed commission seeks to unveil the full scope of historical trauma inflicted upon Native families and communities, paving a path toward healing and accountability.

Last month, this long-sought initiative gained critical momentum as Representatives Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), both prominent Indigenous voices in Congress, introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. An identical bill has already successfully navigated through the Senate, underscoring a rare bipartisan consensus on this crucial issue. The envisioned Truth and Healing Commission would comprise five distinguished individuals, meticulously selected by Congress based on recommendations put forth by tribal nations and Indigenous-led organizations. Beyond providing a sacred space for survivors to articulate their personal stories of hardship and resilience, the commission would be mandated to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the federal government’s profound role in establishing and perpetuating the boarding school system, meticulously examining its far-reaching and often devastating impacts on Indigenous communities. The culmination of this multi-year effort would be a detailed report, replete with actionable recommendations designed to foster genuine healing, reconciliation, and meaningful redress for historical wrongs.

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) has been a driving force behind this legislative push, shepherding the bill through several iterations since its initial introduction in 2021. This proposed federal commission would significantly expand upon NABS’s decade-long foundational work, which includes the meticulous collection and preservation of survivors’ oral histories—a vital counter-narrative to previously suppressed accounts. Furthermore, it builds upon the groundbreaking investigations initiated by the Department of the Interior under the Biden administration. These preliminary investigations, conducted by the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, starkly revealed that the federal government operated a vast network of 417 institutions across 37 states and territories. These institutions systematically engaged in the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families and homelands, subjecting them to brutal policies of cultural assimilation, often accompanied by severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and in tragic instances, death. The Interior Department’s findings further estimated that the federal government channeled more than $23 billion (in today’s dollars) to sustain this coercive system for nearly a century, from the early 19th century into the mid-20th century.

Samuel Torres (Mexica/Nahua), Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NABS, recently emphasized the profound significance of this legislation in a conversation about its potential impact and the unique political moment it occupies. Torres articulated that the Truth and Healing Commission Bill represents an unprecedented opportunity for the United States to address long-standing questions posed by Indian Country for generations. He highlighted the overwhelming bipartisan support it has garnered, not only from members of Congress but also from tribal leaders nationwide, evidenced by unanimous resolutions passed by organizations like the National Congress of American Indians. Moreover, a diverse array of faith communities, spanning various denominations, have publicly endorsed the bill, signaling a broader societal recognition of the need for truth and reconciliation.

"It’s more than time that a commission like this be formed and implemented," Torres asserted, underscoring the urgency driven by the advancing age of many surviving elders. "Our elders are not getting any younger, and we need to pass this now for them, for their ancestors and for their descendants." He elaborated that the commission’s multi-year mandate would culminate in a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at supporting the holistic healing of Indian Country and fostering accountability among all actors—governmental and religious—who witnessed or perpetrated wrongdoing. Fundamentally, this marks the first instance where the U.S. federal government would directly engage with boarding school survivors, allowing their firsthand accounts to shape the nation’s future steps toward healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Torres also stressed the commission’s anticipated role in generating a robust body of research and narratives, significantly contributing to the collective understanding and public awareness of this obscured chapter of American history. He noted NABS’s decade-long experience demonstrating that when the broader public learns about these histories, they often "lean in, they want to step in, and they want to be advocates." This expanded awareness, Torres believes, will inspire societal changes within schools, churches, and other institutions, fostering greater consciousness and respect for the profound impacts of this history. He firmly believes that "it starts with the gathering of that testimony and uplifting the voices of boarding school survivors directly."

The scope of the proposed commission, Torres clarified, would transcend the archival research undertaken by the Interior Department’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which produced "Volume One" and "Volume Two" reports. While acknowledging the vital importance of that initial work, he described it as "archival research, a limited survey," merely scratching the surface. The commission, in contrast, would ensure extensive follow-up, incorporating the direct voices of survivors and developing comprehensive policy recommendations to meaningfully address the enduring impacts of boarding schools on Indigenous families and communities.

Reflecting on past challenges, Torres recounted the disconcerting experience of transitioning from periods of federal support for boarding school investigations to facing funding cuts, such as the rescission of a $250,000 grant under the Trump administration, which cited a shift in priorities. He lamented that historically, the federal government’s desire to investigate or learn about boarding schools has been "entirely minuscule," with a "paltry intent" to answer critical questions. Despite Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding the number of boarding schools, missing children, or deaths, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. Torres emphasized that this history impacts all Americans, Native and non-Native alike, making it incumbent upon everyone to demand answers. "American taxpayers deserve to know how tax funding was utilized to wage violence against Native people over generations," he declared, asserting that this responsibility transcends partisan lines.

Torres critically addressed the broader trend of historical revisionism, exemplified by efforts under previous administrations to remove signage from national parks documenting histories of enslaved people and Native peoples. He decried such actions as "entirely shameful," stressing that removing signs does not erase history or alter the violent impacts of wielding power. "Changing narratives because of political power does not change the impact of wielding that violence," he stated emphatically. He posited that honest truth-telling about historical occurrences offers the potential for collective healing and a shared commitment to preventing future atrocities. Conversely, moving away from truth-telling, he warned, "moves us away from kinship" and "allows an opening for campaigns of injustice to happen again." This imperative for "honest and courageous truth-telling" is crucial for healing generational wounds and building a more just society.

Drawing a poignant parallel to contemporary issues, Torres highlighted the striking resemblance between the historical U.S. policy of separating Native families through boarding schools and current immigration enforcement practices that result in family separations. Headquartered in Minneapolis, NABS has actively supported grassroots efforts in the Twin Cities, aiding Native relatives who have experienced confrontations with federal agents. Torres explained NABS’s role in supporting their healing journeys and advocating for accountability and truth in response to ongoing challenges. He noted that NABS’s core mission is intrinsically linked to this enduring legacy of forced separation, removal, and violence against Indigenous peoples across the Americas. "This is as relevant as it gets, really," Torres observed. "I mean, this is history kind of coming full circle again, and it always has different elements of change and evolution and transition, but we’re seeing it play out in real time." The establishment of a federal Truth and Healing Commission is therefore not merely an act of historical reckoning but a crucial step towards addressing the reverberating effects of past policies on present-day communities and preventing their recurrence.