An investigative report by the U.S. Department of Interior found that more than 970 Native American children died at federal Indian boarding schools between 1819 and 1969.
At least 973 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children died while attending schools operated or supported by the federal government over the 150-year period, according to the report released on July 30.
During the 1800s, the United States established Indian boarding schools to forcibly assimilate Native children by separating them from their families and communities. Once at boarding schools, the children were given English names and had their hair chopped.
The schools prevented the children from using their native languages or practicing their religions and cultural practices. They were sorted into units to perform military drills and forced to do manual labor, including lumbering, brick-making, garment-making, and working on the railroad system.
The report, which did not identify the cause of death for each child, acknowledged that the actual number of deaths may be higher. It also identified 74 marked and unmarked burial sites at 65 school sites. […]
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