Bringing Light to a Dark Chapter in History
From the mid-seventeenth century till the early twentieth century, Indian boarding schools were used as a tool to assimilate Native American children away from their rich culture. Yet, for far too long, the history, policies, and devastating impacts of these schools have been unknown. As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the longest serving Native American in the House of Representatives, it is not lost on me the duty I have to educate and spread awareness about Indian boarding schools and other tribal issues.
The first Indian boarding school was created in 1801, and many came to follow. In fact, according to recent accounting, at least 523 institutions, the overwhelming majority of which were operated and located in my home state of Oklahoma, were part of the nationwide network of boarding schools for Native American children – and at least 408 of these schools received federal funding.
