To protect and tell these painful stories will not be easy. The Carlisle School and other Native American boarding schools are rife with trauma, broken promises, and stolen families from hundreds of Tribal Nations.
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, President Joe Biden designated the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, a new national park site that tells the story of traumatic family separation and abuse at Native American boarding schools across the country.
President Biden’s proclamation states that this new national monument will be managed by the National Park Service in close consultation with Tribal Nations, so that Indian Country leaders will have the opportunity to shape planning processes, interpretation, and other critical factors in park management.
As the flagship Native American boarding school, the Carlisle School held thousands of Native children separated from their families, yet it represents just a small fraction of these stories.
The Biden administration’s hard work and careful collaboration with Tribal leaders on this sensitive issue recently culminated in a formal apology from the United States government regarding Native American boarding schools.
Statement of Theresa Pierno, National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO:
“Under the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland, the Department of the Interior has made remarkable efforts to recognize the generational pain and trauma that Native American boarding schools inflicted on Indigenous people in the United States. Now, by designating the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, the Biden administration is taking the next powerful step towards ensuring this painful history will never be erased from our collective memory. President Biden and Secretary Haaland are tasking the National Park Service with a new mission to commemorate this history and help generations to come learn from the mistakes of generations past. Crucially, NPS and Tribal communities will work in collaboration to ensure this monument will help heal these wounds.
“We are grateful for Secretary Haaland, whose sensitivity and grace in navigating the dark legacy of these schools has helped chart a path forward to properly acknowledge their toll. As a country, we are deeply indebted to the many Native people who came forward to share the heavy emotional burden of stories of their communities’ experiences at these boarding schools.
“To protect and tell these painful stories will not be easy. The Carlisle School and other Native American boarding schools are rife with trauma, broken promises, and stolen families from hundreds of Tribal Nations. To properly interpret these stories will require deference and respect to Indian Country, including boarding school descendants, who will deservedly play a primary role in managing and interpreting their history. Their leadership is deeply needed to ensure that the stories at this park are handled with sensitivity and care. We believe this national park site is an excellent opportunity for the federal government to honor Tribal self-determination.
“We know that the hardworking staff of the National Park Service have proven themselves capable of telling complex, heartbreaking history with the dignity it deserves. The National Park Service has a chance to work hand in hand with Native people impacted by the horrors of these boarding schools, creating a lasting monument of learning and remembrance for all of us.“
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
