Starting in 1819, Congress enforced a policy of forced assimilation that lasted until the 1970s, with boarding schools impacting generations of native people. Boarding schools got its start here in Alaska in the 1870s. The goal was to eradicate Alaska native culture, starting with removing children from their homelands, all to gain the natural resources of the land.
Since the policy ended, there’s been no apology from a U.S. president until now with President Joe Biden in Arizona apologizing on behalf of the federal government.
“The federal government has never, never formally apologized for what happened until today. I formally apologize as president. United States of America, for what we did. I formally apologize.”
This apology resonates with many Alaska natives. Rosita Worl with Sealaska was in a boarding school when she was a child. She finds the apology very significant and profound.
“I think it benefits our society as …