This landmark report concludes a three-year investigation resulting in the federal government accepting responsibility for helping to create a system of more than 400 schools across 37 states in which Native children experienced abuse and mistreatment for decades. The report also confirms the deaths of at least 973 children at these schools, and suggests the actual figure is far greater.

Interestingly, not only did the report’s release occur during a highly contentious election, but it also coincided with the 2024-25 Student Ambassador training at our offices in Denver, at which students developed and shared their individual stories. I connect these two things because this year’s Ambassadors, like many Native people, bonded strongly through their common story of living with and fighting the effects of generational trauma, which stems from the painful boarding school era.

I know some people are hesitant to name generational trauma, but it is real, and it touches far more Native people than not. The pain caused by ripping families apart and losing children forever is not a pain you forget or set aside. It lives with you every moment of every day and is present in every decision you make. It can cause some to turn to drugs and alcohol or it may cause debilitating depression, leaving you powerless to take care of yourself or your family. It may manifest as physical pain or as significant health problems.

I listened to every student’s story of family histories of addiction, sexual assault, poverty, homelessness, suicide, and physical and mental health challenges. Many people do not understand the strong and deep connection between the abused and traumatized relatives in boarding schools and the challenges Native people and Tribal Nations experience today. But the connection is there. And the stories did not always end well for our students’ ancestors, nor for their children, grandchildren, and beyond.

The common thread in the Ambassadors’ stories that touched me most deeply was how education saved their lives – not just changed their lives but saved their lives – and their educations are at the core of their conviction that generational trauma and the manifestations stop with this generation. Our young people see education as the path to healing, confidence, safety, security, determination, and reclaiming their voices.

Many of our students have children, and the passion with which they speak about creating an environment of love, safety, security, and opportunity for their children is inspiring. It gives me so much hope for our future as Native people. Using education as the path to a better life for themselves and their children means something real – it is visible and tangible, and, most importantly, attainable.

You are the reason education is attainable for so many – you are supporting students as they end generational trauma and create a new era of healing, security, and opportunity for their children, their grandchildren, and for generations beyond. What an incredible difference you are making.

While I am sad the release of the Boarding School final report was lost in the election fervor, I do hope you will make time to read it. It is a painful story that has lived on in my people and is sometimes hard to read and digest – but it is also the pathway to healing and reconciliation, which is something we can all embrace.

I am deeply grateful for the appointment of Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and for her commitment to providing closure to this very painful part of our shared history. I remain optimistic this closure will accelerate the healing we long for and need to move forward as healthy, thriving Nations.

Wopila, thank you.

The Promise
of Tomorrow

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