Biden to issue formal apology to Native Americans for government boarding school system on Friday

President Joe Biden on Thursday confirmed reports that he will deliver a formal apology to Native American families that were separated in the past, because of a government-run boarding school system.

The federal government attempted to integrate Native American children through Indian boarding schools from 1819 through the 1970s "by forcibly removing them from their families, communities, languages, religions and cultural beliefs," according to the Department of the Interior. Some of the students at these schools were abused and even died.

The apology will be issued at the Gila River Indian Community in Phoenix, Arizona, where the president will be accompanied by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American to serve on a presidential cabinet. 

"I’m heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago: make a formal apology to the Indian nations for the way we treated their children for so many years," Biden told reporters Thursday, per NBC News. "That’s why I’m going. That’s why I’m heading West."

Haaland praised the president's decision to issue the formal apology during a press briefing on Thursday, where she revealed that members of her own family were forced into the boarding school system.

“For decades, this terrible chapter was hidden from our history books, but now our administration’s work will ensure that no one will ever forget,” the secretary said.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. also praised the planned apology in a statement on X, stating that it was "long-overdue" and should be followed by more action.

“President Biden’s apology is a profound moment for Native people across this country,” Hoskin said. “I applaud the President for acknowledging the pain and suffering inflicted on tribes and boarding school survivors."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.