We need the support of the masses to enact change. Tribes and Tribal Organizations have passed resolutions in support of boarding school healing, individuals have signed petitions in support of repatriation and government acknowledgement of boarding school impacts, and letters have been written to Congress but there is still more work to do.
Resolutions in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the U.S.
International Organizations:
- International Indian Treaty Council: Resolution Calling For the U.S. to Investigate impacts of U.S. Boarding School Policies
National Organizations
- National Congress of American Indians: Support for a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools
- American Bar Association: Resolution in support of the Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative and to Enact the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act
- National Indian Health Board: Support for a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
Regional Organizations
- Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians: Support for the creation of a National commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- California Nations Indian Gaming Association: Support a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council Inc.: Support a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- Great Lakes Intertribal Council: Support for the Enactment by the United States Congress of a Bill to Create a Commission on American Indian Boarding School Policy
- Indian Health Council: Support for a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Inc.: Support for the Establishment of a National Commission to Investigate and Report to the United States Congress on US boarding school policies
- Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council: Support a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- Southern California Tribal Chairman's Association Inc.: Support a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
- State of Minnesota Indian Affairs Council: Support for a Congressional Hearing to investigate and report to the U.S. Congress on the impacts of US Boarding School Policies
- United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.: Support for a National Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
Tribes
- Cahuilla Band of Indians: Support the Creation of a Commission on US Indian Boarding School Policy
- Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians: Support for an investigation and report on US Indian Boarding School Policy
- San Manuel Band of Mission Indians: Support for an investigation and report on US Indian Boarding School Policy
- Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska: Support for the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act and Bolstering Initiatives
- Tulalip Tribes of Washington: Statement and Support for the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act and Associated Efforts
- Ute Mountain Ute Tribe: Support for a Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy
Cities
- City of Seattle: A Resolution supporting the creation of a U.S. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools
We Need to Take Collective Action
The following are expressions of support for the work of the Coalition and for the Coalition’s plan to support healing. They are from various tribes and regional and national organizations of tribes, as well as related organizations that are familiar with boarding school healing issues. If you would like assistance in drafting your own resolution or expression of support, please contact us at info@nabshc.org. We invite your support, and it would be sincerely appreciated!
National Organizations:
- Resolution of the National Congress of American Indians, #AK-21-004
- Resolution of the National Congress of American Indians, #MOH-17-014
- Resolution of the National Congress of American Indians, #PHX-16-063
- Resolution of the National Congress of American Indians, #ATL-14-026
- Resolution of the National Congress of American Indians, #REN-13-055
- Resolution of the National Indian Health Board, #13-01
- Letter of Support from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, August 27, 2014
Past Petitions
Petition for a Truth Report on US Boarding Schools
Date: August 18, 2016
Petition Organizer: The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
We, the undersigned, hereby petition the US Federal Government to tell the American people the truth about their US Indian Boarding School Policy and we are petitioning for the creation of a “Truth Report: The US Boarding School Policy, History, and Legacy.”
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, along with our tribal allies, calls for: the commission of a comprehensive national study of the history of the US Boarding School Policy, complete documentation of all schools, how many students attended, and the events that took place at each of the schools.
We also seek the gathering of testimony from those that suffered from abuse, neglect or other trauma; and documentation of the effects of the policy on individuals, families and communities. This study is necessary to support recommendations by and to Tribal Nations concerning inter-generational trauma and potential paradigms for healing and reconciliation.
Our Coalition Members and relatives want the truth about what happened in US Boarding Schools. Any form of government acknowledgement falls short if it does not include the commission of a truth study on US Boarding Schools.
Petition for Carlisle Repatriation
Date: March 31, 2016
Petition Organizer: The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
In Cooperation With: The Northern Arapaho and the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Nations
We the undersigned, Petition the US Army War College, the Secretary of Defense, and the Commander in Chief of the United States of America to repatriate the remains of Native American students buried at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Cemetery, now the US Army War College. The following legislation requires all Federal entities to comply with the request for repatriation:
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA),
Pub. L. 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., 104 Stat. 3048, is a United States federal law enacted on 16 November 1990. The Act requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding[1] which has possession or control over Native American human remains and associated funerary objects to compile an inventory of such items and, to the extent possible based on information possessed by such Federal agency, identify the geographical and cultural affiliation of such item and upon request of a known lineal descendant of the Native American or of the tribe, return such Native American remains to the lineal descendants and culturally affiliated Indian tribe.
We support the requests from the Northern Arapaho Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and any other tribes, to repatriate the remains of their relatives who are interred at the Army War College, also known as the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
Repatriation is a small yet essential part of healing the trans-generational wounds inflicted upon families and individuals through the US Boarding School experience. The Army War College is required by law to complete an inventory of the remains and to comply with these requests for repatriation.
By signing this petition, we join the “Call to Repatriate” Carlisle Indian Students buried at the cemetery who deserve to go home and to receive a proper, culturally-relevant burial. The relatives of these children are entitled to have the remains returned so that they may grieve and heal from their loss in whatever way they choose and not have to travel all the way to Carlisle, PA to visit them. Nor should they be subjected to any further grieving resulting from having their loved ones identified as a tourist attraction for the Army War College.