The US Army’s act of repatriating the remains of nine Indigenous children tells a poignant story of reconciliation more than a century in the making.
At a Glance
- The remains of nine Native American children from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School have been returned to their families.
- The school was part of a policy to assimilate Indigenous children into white society.
- The Army confirmed the remains matched student and burial records and respected a tribe’s privacy request.
- Most remains have been reburied on Native lands, honoring the legacy of the deceased children.
A Historic Repatriation
In an effort to address historic injustices, the US Army has returned the remains of nine Indigenous children who perished at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. This infamous institution aimed to assimilate Native American children into white society, a policy that led to the alienation and demise of many young lives. The children, from a variety of tribes including the Oglala Sioux and Seminole, lay buried at the Carlisle Barracks for over a century.
The mission, confirmed by the Office of Army Cemeteries, matched the remains with student and burial records, signifying a step towards recognizing and rectifying the past wrongs inflicted by such assimilation policies.
Army Returns Remains of 9 Indigenous Children Who Died at Boarding School over a Century Ago https://t.co/HFNNNvkHZ9
— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) October 2, 2024
Healing Historical Wounds
Communities receiving the remains are engaging in sacred ceremonies to honor the cultural identities and legacy of the children. The Army’s commitment to this repatriation represents an understanding of the deep scars left by these boarding schools. Although the effort addresses past wrongs, it also paves a way to revive the rich heritage suppressed by previous policies.
“The Army team extends our deepest condolences to the Wichita and Affiliated Tribe,” Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of the Office of Army Cemeteries, stated.
Instituted between 1879 and 1918, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School enforced assimilation by altering students’ personal and cultural identities. This included cutting their hair and punishing native language use, which led to harsh conditions resulting in numerous child fatalities from diseases such as tuberculosis.
Efforts to assimilate over 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes exemplify a federal policy that left lasting damage. The current repatriation attempts across the US symbolically return identities that were forcefully taken, allowing tribes to finally conduct respectful burials.
