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The National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools in the United States is Monday, September 30. Why do we need a Day of Remembrance?
Residential or boarding schools inflicted trauma on Indigenous children that is still being felt today, generations later. Indigenous children were taken from their families, some as young as four years old. Many died and were buried on the grounds of the schools. Many that survived were no longer accepted in their own communities. Many were forced to believe in Christianity and weren’t allowed to speak their language, sing their songs, or dance their ceremonial dances.
As an Indigenous person, I am a descendant of four residential school survivors, my grandparents. I am grateful that I received, learned, and was shown the love of God in the way it was intended so that I can help my people heal with God’s good love. I am grateful to be a leader in the ELCA, which is leading the way in reconciliation with Indigenous people.
Monday, September 30 is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools. Learn ways here that you can support this day by wearing orange and more.
This message is excerpted from “Wearing orange in remembrance of Indian boarding schools” by Wanda K. Frenchman from the September 21, 2024, blog of the Women of the ELCA.