Last week, 21 members of U.S. Congress signed a letter calling for the Indian Health Service to provide more resources to support those affected by Federal Indian Boarding Schools.
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and the National Indian Health Board’s letter outlined potential steps the U.S. could take to better support survivors of Indian Boarding schools, especially as Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced a federal investigation into the impact of Indian Boarding schools earlier this year.
National Native American Boarding School Coalition’s CEO Christine McCleave said in a statement that “We believe that healing will need to be community-led and Tribal Nations should be at the forefront of determining what mental, spiritual and physical support their citizens will need as this truth-telling process unfolds.”
The letter also says survivors and their descendants would benefit from a national hotline giving counsel and resources to those who called in. According to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, Montana has had 17 of these Indian schools.
Taylar Stagner is Yellowstone Public Radio’s Report for America Indian affairs reporter.
