President Biden Honors Native Children with New National Monument at Carlisle
In a landmark gesture of recognition and remembrance, President Joe Biden has proclaimed the establishment of a new national monument at the site of the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. The announcement marks a significant moment in the nation's efforts to acknowledge the painful legacy of assimilation schools that profoundly impacted Native communities.
The Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the first federally funded off-reservation boarding school in the United States, was established in 1879 with the mission to forcibly assimilate Native children into Euro-American culture. Over the decades, thousands of Native children were removed from their homes and families, enduring profound loss of cultural identity, language, and connection to their heritage.
The proclamation of the Carlisle Indian School National Monument comes after years of advocacy by tribal leaders, historians, and descendants of those who attended the school. President Biden’s decision reflects a broader commitment to reckoning with the injustices faced by Native peoples and supporting efforts toward healing and reconciliation.
"By designating this national monument, we ensure that the history of Native children who suffered here is never forgotten," President Biden said during the announcement. "This site stands as a testament to their resilience and to the enduring strength of Native communities."
The new monument will serve as a place of reflection and education, featuring exhibits and memorials dedicated to the stories of the children who lived and died at Carlisle. Efforts are already underway to work closely with tribes to repatriate remains of children buried at the school and to ensure their descendants are part of shaping the site's future.
For Cherokee and other Indigenous nations, the monument is a powerful acknowledgment of a dark chapter in American history. It also represents a step toward preserving the cultural narratives that boarding schools sought to erase.
The Carlisle Indian School National Monument is a call to reflect on the past and to look forward with a renewed commitment to justice and equity for Native communities. Its establishment is a tribute to the resilience of those who endured its harrowing history and to the generations working to ensure their stories are heard.
Make sure you don't miss out. Subscribe to our newsletter
https://joinus.cherokee411.com/
Read more about Biden's apology: https://www.cherokeepins.org/post/a-long-awaited-apology-steps-toward-healing-for-indigenous-communities