Support of Presidential Apology to Native Americans for Indian Boarding Schools

Today President Biden apologized for “the U.S. government’s role in running hundreds of Indian boarding schools for a 150-year period that stripped Native American children of their language and culture” in an effort to assimilate them into mainstream society. This is the first presidential apology of this kind in the United States.

St. Joseph’s Supports President Biden’s apology

Mike Tyrell, president of St. Joseph’s Indian School, expressed support of President’s Biden’s message. “Native American families have too long suffered the effects of the boarding school era. Though we were founded on a different model and were never a part of the government system, our early years reflected some similarity to the boarding schools of the era.” Tyrell added, “We know from the Canadian experience that an honest apology and truth telling can open the pathway to healing. We want this for all those carrying the trauma and grief of the boarding school era.”

truth and reconciliation at st. Joseph’s Indian school

Clare Willrodt, director of Communications, explained the school’s current efforts to address boarding school history called Process to Advanced Truth and Healing (PATH). “Over the past three years we have worked with Native American colleagues to educate our staff on boarding school history and on our own history as it relates.” She added that the school is in the process of building a curriculum for students, as well. For more than 20 years, St. Joseph’s has provided support to alumni through a Healing Support Line.

St. Joseph’s Indian School is a member of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network and a participant in its Truth and Healing Committee. Learn more about the school’s truth and healing efforts in Season 2, Episodes 8 – 10 of the school’s Hόčhocka Podcast. Host Scott Woster speaks with Makha Black Elk, former Director of Truth and Healing at Maȟpíya Lúta (formerly Red Cloud Indian School, Inc.) and Father Michael Carson, the assistant director of Native American Affairs at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.             

pope francis’ apology for indian boarding schools   

President Biden’s apology comes a little over two years since Pope Francis delivered an historic apology for the Catholic Church’s cooperation with Canada’s residential school policy.