### President Biden to Apologize for Historical Abuse in Indigenous Boarding Schools

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - On Friday, President Joe Biden will issue a formal apology for the United States' long-standing history of forcibly placing Indigenous children in boarding schools, which subjected many to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and resulted in the deaths of over 950 children.

"I’m taking a step that is long overdue: formally apologizing to the Indian nations for the mistreatment of their children over many years," President Biden stated on Thursday before his departure to Arizona. Accompanying him on this significant visit will be Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to lead the agency. The visit to the Gila River Indian Community, located outside Phoenix, marks Biden's inaugural diplomatic trip to a tribal nation as president.

Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, initiated an investigation into the boarding school system shortly after her appointment. "I never imagined such a moment would come," Haaland told The Associated Press. "This is a monumental event for me, and undoubtedly for all of Indian Country."

Haaland's investigation uncovered that at least 18,000 children, some as young as four years old, were forcibly removed from their families and placed in schools aimed at their assimilation into white society, while federal and state authorities stripped tribal nations of their land. The investigation revealed 973 deaths, though this number may be higher, and identified 74 gravesites associated with these schools, which numbered over 500.

No U.S. president has previously apologized for this forced removal—an act considered an element of genocide under United Nations definitions—or for the broader efforts to erode Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations. The Interior Department held listening sessions and collected survivor testimonials, leading to recommendations for formal acknowledgement and apology, which Haaland presented to Biden.

"The President's apology means acknowledging our full history, even its painful aspects, and ensuring we learn from it so it is not repeated," stated the White House.

The forced assimilation policy began in 1819 under congressional mandate and ended in 1978 with the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act, which aimed to give tribes authority in the adoption processes of their children.

The visit to the Gila River Indian Community coincides with Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign targeting Native American voters in pivotal states, including Arizona and North Carolina, through significant advertising investments.

"This will be one of the most significant moments of my life," Haaland said.

Though the apology’s immediate actions remain uncertain, the Interior Department continues to work with tribal nations to repatriate children's remains on federal lands. Some tribes remain in conflict with the U.S. Army, which has yet to comply with federal regulations regarding the return of Native American remains from the Carlisle Indian School cemetery in Pennsylvania.

"President Biden's apology marks a profound moment for Native people nationwide," stated Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. "Our children were forced into environments that stripped them of their identities, culture, and language. Oklahoma had 87 boarding schools attended by thousands of our Cherokee children, and the impact is still felt today."

Melissa Nobles, chancellor of MIT and author of "The Politics of Official Apologies," suggests that this apology could pave the way for further governmental action on behalf of tribal nations still seeking restitution.