Summary
The article discusses the history and impact of U.S. Indian boarding schools, where many Native American children faced hardship. These schools aimed to assimilate Native children and often separated them from their families. Events like Orange Shirt Day now help remember and heal from this past.
Key Facts
- U.S. Indian boarding schools operated from 1819 to 1969 with over 400 schools funded by the federal government.
- Many Native children were taken from their families and sent to these distant schools.
- At least 973 Native children died while attending these schools, according to a federal investigation.
- Survivors recall facing abuse and neglect at these institutions.
- Orange Shirt Day is a day of remembrance for these children, observed in the U.S. and Canada.
- The event commemorates Phyllis Webstad's story and the loss experienced by Indigenous families.
- Ramona Klein, a boarding school survivor, emphasizes the importance of healing for future generations.
