SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a group of senators to discuss her legislation, S.1723, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. Co-authored with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), the bill aims to establish a formal commission to investigate and acknowledge past injustices related to federal Indian Boarding Schools. The proposed commission would also recommend measures for Congress to aid in healing historical and intergenerational trauma within Native families and communities.

Senator Murkowski emphasized the importance of addressing this "dark legacy" in her floor speech: “From 1819 to 1969— not too terribly long ago. But throughout that period, the U.S. Government forcibly removed Native children from their families and Tribes and placed them in boarding schools.” She added that these institutions were used as tools to eradicate Native cultures, languages, and traditions under the guise of education.

The senator recounted stories from survivors like Fred John Jr., who attended Wrangell Institute and was referred to by a number rather than his name. Murkowski shared how John Jr. carried pain from his experiences until he found strength through his children’s encouragement.

Murkowski detailed how General Pratt established a 'rapid coercive assimilation' process at Carlisle Industrial School with the aim of separating Native children from their cultural roots: “The stated purpose of this policy was to ‘Kill the Indian to Save the Man.’”

She illustrated these points with photographs showing young Alaska Native children taken away on ships or dressed in military uniforms at Catholic missions. Testimonies revealed that disobedient children had their heads shaved as punishment.

Senator Murkowski argued for federal responsibility in addressing these harmful policies through an independent bipartisan commission: “Our Commission will provide a Native-led process for communities to share stories, share truth, and pursue healing with the goal of breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma.”

The bill has garnered support from numerous organizations including the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) and National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). It is co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), among others.

Murkowski concluded by urging bipartisan support for this significant issue: “I look forward to building bipartisan support for this legislation and I urge my colleagues to support this very important and very timely matter.”