AMC Acknowledges Historic U.S. Apology to Native American Boarding School Survivors

October 25, 2024

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba

AMC Communications

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) acknowledges a formal apology that U.S. President Joe Biden delivered to the Native Americans today for the atrocities committed under the Indian boarding school system. This apology, which addresses a dark chapter of forced assimilation of children spanning over 150 years, is a significant step toward healing for Native American and Alaska Native peoples. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs extends its solidarity to our relatives to the South of the Medicine Line as they continue their path toward justice and reconciliation.

In many ways, this apology mirrors the apology delivered to First Nations Peoples in Canada in 2008 for the trauma inflicted by the residential school system. The legacy of these policies in both Canada and the United States has had profound impacts on our families, communities, Nations, and cultures, with lasting intergenerational trauma. Canada’s apology, delivered by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was a turning point that initiated meaningful advocacy for survivors and began the Truth and Reconciliation process, which continues today.

“While no apology can erase the pain, these acknowledgements are critical in bringing truth to light. We know firsthand how vital it is to face the past with honesty to build a future grounded in healing and justice,” said Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy, “Canada’s 2008 apology was a catalyst for significant advocacy efforts, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which allowed residential school survivors to share their stories, document the atrocities, and outline Calls to Action for all Canadians.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada revealed the widespread abuse, neglect, and cultural destruction experienced by over 150,000 Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and sent to federally funded Christian residential schools. Many of these children never returned home, with thousands dying in the institutions that sought to erase their identities. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Interior’s investigation into the Indian boarding schools, led by Secretary Deb Haaland, has unveiled the systemic harm inflicted on Native American children, shedding light on the common struggles of First Peoples on both sides of the border.

“We commend President Biden for taking this step, and we stand with our Native American relatives in their fight for recognition and justice,” added Acting Grand Chief Kennedy. “We know how important it is to hold space for survivors’ voices and experiences. We hope this apology sparks tangible action, much like our Truth and Reconciliation Commission here in Canada, to address the ongoing legacies of these colonial policies.”

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs remains committed to advocating for First Nations survivors of Canada’s residential school system and to advancing the Calls to Action laid out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The journey to healing requires continuous efforts from governments, institutions, and all citizens to confront the truths of our shared history and to work together toward a just and equitable future.

The AMC encourages First Nations to stay informed, support one another, and honour the memory of those who suffered under these institutions by continuing to uplift First Nations knowledge, culture, and community.

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For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com 

About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.