Biden apologizes for federal Indian boarding schools: 'One of the most horrific chapters in American history'

President Biden connected Friday offered a "long overdue" ceremonial apology from the authorities for the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, describing it arsenic "one of the astir horrific chapters successful American history." 

The U.S. Department of the Interior says the program, which lasted implicit a 150-year play that ended successful 1969, established 408 schools crossed 37 states to "culturally assimilate American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children by forcibly removing them from their families, communities, languages, religions and taste beliefs." 

"After 150 years, the United States authorities yet stopped the program. But the national authorities has never, ne'er formally apologized for what happened — until today," Biden told an assemblage portion speaking astatine the Gila River Indian Community successful Arizona. "I formally apologize, arsenic President of the United States of America, for what we did. I formally apologize. That's agelong overdue." 

"At first, successful the 1800s, the effort was voluntary, asking tribes... to nonstop their children distant to vocational schools. But past the national authorities mandated the removal of children from their families and tribes, launching what's called the Federal Indian Boarding School era," helium said. 

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President Biden speaks astatine the Gila Crossing Community School successful Laveen, Arizona, connected Friday. (AP/Rick Scuteri)

"One of the astir horrific chapters successful American history," Biden continued. "We should beryllium ashamed, a section that astir Americans don't cognize about." 

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Attendees clap astatine an lawsuit with President Biden astatine the Gila Crossing Community School connected the Gila River Indian Community preservation successful Laveen, Arizona, connected Friday. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

"Generations of autochthonal children stolen, taken distant to places they didn't know, with radical they ne'er met, who spoke a connection they had ne'er heard. Native communities silenced. Their children's laughter and play were gone," Biden besides said. "Children would get astatine schools, their apparel taken off, their hairsbreadth that they were told was sacred, was chopped off, their names virtually erased, replaced by a fig oregon an English name." 

President Biden said during his code that the Federal Indian Boarding School epoch was 1 of the "most horrific chapters successful American history." (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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At slightest 973 Native American children died during the program, during which much than 18,000 were taken from their parents, according to The Associated Press.