SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, vice chairman of the Committee, have issued statements regarding President Joe Biden's formal apology for the federal government's past Indian Boarding School policies.

Senator Schatz emphasized the historical impact of these policies: “For more than a century, the federal government’s Indian Boarding School policies and practices stole hundreds of thousands of Native children from their homes in an effort to destroy Native languages, cultures, and identities. It’s an unconscionable chapter in our nation’s history, with a lasting legacy that continues to affect communities today."

He further stated that President Biden's apology is "a significant step toward confronting the dark history of these policies." He highlighted the need for congressional action: "Now Congress must act – the federal government also has a solemn responsibility to chart a path toward healing." He mentioned legislation advanced by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to establish a commission to investigate and acknowledge these historical injustices. Schatz called passing this bill "a moral imperative" and expressed his commitment to delivering justice and support for Native communities.

Senator Murkowski commended President Biden's apology: “I commend the President for his apology to all the survivors and Native communities which continue to be impacted by the tragic legacy of the Indian boarding school era." She described this acknowledgment as "an extremely important step toward healing," despite being long overdue. Murkowski reaffirmed her determination to pass legislation for creating a Truth and Healing Commission.