Biden Apologizes for Native American Boarding Schools

President Joe Biden is set to make a historic apology for the U.S. government's role in the Native American boarding school system during his visit to Arizona, which aims to address the trauma inflicted on Indigenous children and communities. This marks the first time a sitting president has publicly acknowledged and apologized for such policies, which forcibly removed at least 18,000 children and led to nearly 1,000 documented deaths. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who initiated an investigation into the boarding schools, emphasized the significance of this apology for healing and reconciliation. The investigation revealed systemic efforts to assimilate Indigenous children while dispossessing their tribes. Haaland, who has personal ties to the boarding school experience, will accompany Biden as he delivers the apology at the Gila Crossing Community School. This event is seen as a pivotal moment for Indigenous communities and a step towards addressing historical injustices.