Biden Establishes Carlisle Indian School Monument

President Joe Biden designated the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Pennsylvania to honor the resilience of Indigenous tribes affected by forced assimilation policies at the school, which operated from 1879 to 1918. The monument aims to confront a 'dark chapter' in U.S. history, where thousands of Native children were taken from their families and subjected to abuse in an effort to erase their cultural identities. Biden emphasized the importance of recognizing this history to foster healing and prevent its repetition. At the White House Tribal Nations Summit, he announced additional initiatives to support Native communities, including new guidance for disaster declarations and a plan to revitalize Native languages. The designation reflects a broader federal acknowledgment of the historical trauma inflicted by the boarding school system, where at least 973 Native children reportedly died. This recognition has been described as a significant step toward understanding and healing from the past by tribal leaders and descendants of those affected.