Interfaith Statement in Support of the Truth and Healing Commission
September 30, 2021 (see online)
As representatives of religious denominations and congregations that operated many boarding schools for Indigenous children, we welcome the introduction of the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act” and urge all members of Congress to support this important legislation.
We acknowledge that from the 1860s through the 1960s U.S. federal boarding school policy sought to assimilate Native children into white American culture. In recognition that this policy was morally wrong and contrary to the teachings of our own faith, we are now beginning the journey of finding and facing our history with respect to the boarding schools.
The research we have seen so far documents an intense focus on cultural assimilation, teaching the children that their traditional ways were inferior. We have learned that:
• children were separated from their families and communities, in many cases against the wishes of their parents, and sent far away from their homes;
• children were punished for speaking their native languages or practicing their traditional spirituality or culture;
• children were physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
Many children never returned home. We have learned that some of them died, either from disease or from abuse and lack of care, without any communication with their parents or their Tribal community. The fates of some children have yet to be accounted for. As a result, many Native communities today do not know what became of their children who were taken away. The effects of this historical trauma continue to have a serious impact on many Native people, Tribal communities, and Tribal Nations today.
There is so much that we don’t know and so much left to do. Given the scale of the task and the federal government’s own central role, a federal commission is needed.
Canada has a similar history of boarding schools for Native children. Canada’s federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-15) documented the history of these schools, gave survivors an opportunity to share their experiences, greatly raised public awareness about this aspect of the country’s history, and issued Calls to Action to redress the schools’ legacy and take steps towards reconciliation. Many of our congregations and denominations in Canada participated in those processes: uncovering the past, learning more about the effects on boarding school survivors and their descendants, and responding to the Commission’s Calls to Action. Facing the sins of our past, committed in the name of Christianity, has been challenging. But it is also proving to be a tremendous blessing. Confronting the truth is a crucial first step toward laying a new foundation for just relationships moving forward.
We ask you to bring the federal government into this process by establishing a Commission to look truthfully and fully at our country’s boarding school policy. The Commission should also examine the ongoing effects in Indigenous communities and make recommendations for addressing historic and present-day harms. We look forward to working with the federal government and with Indigenous communities in all of these efforts.
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology
Office of Race Relations, Christian Reformed Church of North America
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Quaker Statements – Yearly Meetings
From Southeastern Yearly Meeting
Truth & Healing Commission for Native Peoples
- April 14, 2021
At Yearly Meeting Sessions, the Committee for Ministry on Racism (CMOR) brought forward a minute, which was approved:
Southeastern Yearly Meeting supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” (HR 8420) that was considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019-2020. Although HR 8420 did not become law, CMOR continues to support the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission.
The bill’s purpose was to set up a Truth and Healing Commission to address the multigenerational trauma experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native children, now adults, who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1869 and the 1960’s and placed in Indian Boarding schools far from their homes.
Quakers were among the strongest supporters of the federal policy calling for this forced assimilation, and operated some 30 Indian schools. The children were taught to reject their Native languages, cultures, and spiritual practices and adopt Euro-American culture.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, has tasked Senator Elizabeth Warren with reintroducing the bill this year. Senator Warren will consult with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for wording for the bill. The bill is expected to be similar to last year’s bill.
Southeastern Yearly Meeting urges all Friends to watch for this bill and give it their support.
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From Alaska Friends Conference
Minute in Support of the Creation of a Truth and Healing Commission
Approved November 7, 2021
Alaska Friends Conference (an Alaska-wide organization of the Religious Society of Friends – Quakers) supports the creation of a Truth and Healing Commission addressing the impact of boarding schools for Indians and Indigenous youth as called for in federal bills S2907 and HR5444.
As Alaska Quakers, we are learning about boarding schools, missions, other institutions and practices instituted and led by several religious groups in Alaska, including Quakers. The record contains painful examples of brutality and injustice, including forced assimilation and disruption of Alaska Natives’ families, communities, and culture. The resulting damage affects Alaskans to this day.
We believe that healing and transformation require making a safe space for speaking about past and present harms, and this new knowledge will help evolve relationships between Alaskans. An increasing number of individuals in the Alaska Friends Conference have begun by participating as accountability partners in the First Alaskans Institute’s Truth, Healing and Transformation tribunal sessions.
A Truth and Healing Commission would strongly affirm and facilitate the healing work begun throughout Alaska. Alaska Friends Conference strongly supports the establishment of such a Truth and Healing Commission.
Alaska Friends Conference (Quakers)
Alaska Friends Conference is a statewide group of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers.
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From Intermountain Yearly Meeting
A Minute in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples
Approved by Intermountain Yearly Meeting, June 20, 2021
The Intermountain Yearly Meeting supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” (HR 8420) that was considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019-2020. Although HR 8420 did not become law, IMYM continues to support the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission.
The bill’s purpose was to set up a Truth and Healing Commission to address the historical trauma experienced by Native American and Alaska Native children who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1869 and the 1960’s and placed in Indian Boarding schools. The children were taught to reject their Native languages, cultures, and spiritual practices and adopt Euro-American culture. Native Americans continue to suffer multigenerational trauma caused by this policy of forced assimilation and cultural genocide.
Quakers were among the strongest supporters of the Indian boarding school policy and operated some 30 Indian schools (some in collaboration with the federal government) for varying periods of time. We recognize that the history of the Indian schools is more complex than can be described in this brief minute.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is working with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, and plans to reintroduce the bill this year. Senator Warren will consult with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for wording for the bill. It is expected to be introduced before the August Congressional recess, with wording very similar to last year’s bill.
IMYM urges individual Friends and monthly meetings to watch for this bill and to urge their congressional representatives to support it. IMYM further urges Friends to learn the history of the Quaker Indian schools and consider ways to support Native-managed healing processes, including programs to teach Native languages and prevent youth suicide.
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From New York Yearly Meeting
Minute in Support of the Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples
Brought forward by the Indian Affairs Committee of New York Yearly Meeting Approved in Annual Sessions, July 28, 2021
New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (NYYM) supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act”. This Commission was proposed in 2019-2020 as HR 8420. Although not passed at that time, Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, has urged Senator Elizabeth Warren to reintroduce the bill this year in consultation with the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. This new bill is expected to be reintroduced in the summer of 2021 by Senator Warren.
The Truth and Healing Commission will be charged with addressing the historical trauma experienced by Native American and Alaska Native children who were removed from their families and placed in boarding schools, often far from their homes, where they were forcibly taught to reject their native language, culture, and spirituality in favor of European language, culture and religion. These children often did not return to their homes for years, many were abused or physically/sexually assaulted, and in particularly brutal cases children were killed or died alone far from home. This forced assimilation, cultural genocide and genocide has created multigenerational trauma in many Indigenous communities.
Friends in NYYM acknowledge the role of Quakers in promoting, participating, and financially and otherwise benefitting from the US federal policy on forced assimilation of Indigenous children by creating and supporting Indian Boarding Schools. There were approximately 30 Quaker Indian Boarding Schools in operation between 1869 and the 1960s and there were two schools with active Quaker involvement in the NYYM area. NYYM Indian Affairs Committee had a role as well in efforts to “educate and civilize” Native Americans. We need to bring ourselves face to face with this Quaker history, to prepare to correct it insofar as we can, and to question future actions that may start from the same misinformed and ethnocentric roots.
Currently NYYM supports, through the Indian Affairs Committee, Native Language and cultural reclamation projects in the Mohawk and Abenaki Nations, and FCNL’s Native American program. NYYM urges Friends to learn the history of Quaker Indian Boarding Schools and consider additional ways to support Native-led and -managed healing and reclamation projects.
NYYM urges all Friends to watch for the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” and give it their support through Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and other means.
Quaker Statements – Monthly Meetings
From Boulder Friends Meeting (Colorado)
Supporting the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies
Brought forward by the Indigenous Peoples Concerns Committee and approved May 2021.
The Boulder Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” (HR 8420) that was considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019-2020. Although HR 8420 did not become law, Boulder Meeting continues to support the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission. The bill’s purpose was to set up a Truth and Healing Commission to address the historical trauma experienced by Native American and Alaska Native children who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1869 and the 1960s and placed in Indian Boarding schools. The children were taught to reject their Native languages, cultures, and spiritual practices and adopt Euro-American culture. Native Americans continue to suffer multigenerational trauma caused by this policy of forced assimilation and cultural genocide. Quakers were among the strongest supporters of the Indian boarding school policy and operated some 30 Indian schools (some in collaboration with the federal government) for varying periods of time.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is working with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and plans to reintroduce the bill this year. Senator Warren will consult with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for wording for the bill. It is expected to be introduced before the August Congressional recess, with wording very similar to last year’s bill.
Boulder Meeting urges Friends to watch for this bill and give it their support through Friends Committee on National Legislation and other means. Boulder Meeting makes modest annual donations to support the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, the Southern Arapaho language education program, Isna Wica Owayawa Loneman School on Pine Ridge, and the cultural youth camps on Pine Ridge reservation, all of which support positive Indigenous identity formation among Native youth. Boulder meeting encourages Friends to learn the history of the Quaker Indian schools and consider additional ways to support Native-managed healing processes.
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From Strawberry Creek Friends Meeting, Berkeley CA
Minute in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples
Brought forward by Peace, Earthcare, and Social Witness Committee Approved by Monthly Meeting, August 8, 2021
The Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting of Berkeley, CA (Pacific Yearly Meeting) supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” (HR 8420) that was considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019-2020. Although HR 8420 did not become law, Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting continues to support the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission. The bill’s purpose was to set up a Truth and Healing Commission to address the historical trauma experienced by Native American and Alaska Native children who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1869 and the 1960’s and placed in Indian Boarding schools. The children were taught to reject their Native languages, cultures, and spiritual practices and adopt Euro-American culture. Native Americans continue to suffer multigenerational trauma caused by this policy of forced assimilation and cultural genocide. Quakers were among the strongest supporters of the Indian boarding school policy and operated some 30 Indian schools (some in collaboration with the federal government) for varying periods of time.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, has tasked Senator Elizabeth Warren with reintroducing the bill this year. Senator Warren will consult with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for wording for the bill. It is expected to be introduced before the August Congressional recess, with wording very similar to last year’s bill.
SCMM urges Friends to watch for this bill and give it their support. SCMM further urges Friends to learn the history of the Quaker Indian schools and consider ways to support indigenous-managed healing processes, including programs to teach indigenous languages.
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From Port Townsend Monthly Meeting, Port Townsend WA
A Minute in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples
Approved by the Port Townsend Friends Monthly Meeting (Quakers) at the Monthly Meeting for Business on October 13, 2021
It is long overdue for the US to acknowledge the historic trauma of the Indian boarding school era. Port Townsend Monthly Meeting enthusiastically supports the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act” which Senator Elizabeth Warren has recently introduced as Senate Bill 2907. The bill’s purpose is to set up a Truth and Healing Commission to address the historical trauma experienced by Native American and Alaska Native children who were forcibly removed from their homes between 1869 and the 1960’s and placed in Indian Boarding schools. The children were taught to reject their Native languages, cultures, and spiritual practices and adopt Euro-American culture. Native Americans continue to suffer multigenerational trauma caused by this policy of forced assimilation and cultural genocide.
Quakers were among the strongest supporters of the Indian boarding school policy and operated some 30 Indian schools (some in collaboration with the federal government) for varying periods of time. Now we must work with tribal nations to advance congressional efforts to establish a federal commission to formally investigate boarding school history and develop recommendations for the government to take remedial action.
Although the wrongs committed at these institutions can never be made right, we can start the truth, healing, and reconciliation process for the families and communities affected as we work to right relationship with tribal nations.
Port Townsend Monthly Meeting urges individual Friends and monthly meetings to watch for this bill and to urge their congressional representatives to co-sponsor and support it. PTFM further urges Friends to learn the history of the Quaker Indian schools and consider ways to support Native-managed healing processes, in our own communities, and nationally. These programs could include Quaker initiatives such as Toward Right Relationships with Native Peoples, Decolonizing Quakers, FCNL’s Native American program, as well as many other programs that support Native peoples, preserve Native traditions, teach Native languages, recognize the ongoing trauma of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and prevent youth suicide.
Letter to the Editor – Port Townsend Daily News
LETTER: Face history
- Sunday, November 7, 2021 1:30am
- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I want to thank Congressman Derek Kilmer for co-sponsoring the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act.
The bill calls for a commission to investigate and document the attempted termination of languages, customs and cultures, forced assimilation, and of human rights violations of indigenous peoples.
There were a number of such schools operated in Washington, as well as many indigenous children living on the Olympic Peninsula who were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools across the country.
Repercussions are suffered to this day by our native neighbors whose families were subject to U.S. federal boarding school policies.
We are a country who pride ourselves in protecting the rights of all people.
It is time we step up and face our history of denying the rights of those who cared for this land long before our European ancestors arrived.
Barbara Kurland, Port Townsend