The Trump administration’s federal funding cuts have resulted in the slashing of over $1.6 million intended for projects capturing the stories of systemic abuse endured by generations of Indigenous children in U.S. government boarding schools. Among the impacted organizations is the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, losing over $282,000 and halting efforts to digitize boarding school records for a crucial database aiding in reuniting families and facilitating healing journeys. The significance of preserving these narratives is exemplified by the experience of Roberta Sam, who found closure and understanding about her family’s history through the coalition’s database.

For 150 years, Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes, stripped of their cultural identities, and subjected to abuse at these schools. The recent federal cuts have affected research programs aiming to shed light on this dark chapter of history, such as the termination of grants for recording oral histories of elders in Alaska and curating boarding school exhibits. Despite these setbacks, the Biden administration’s acknowledgment and apology for the government’s role in operating these schools represent a pivotal shift towards truth and reconciliation.

The termination of grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities has drawn criticism for hindering vital efforts to uncover and preserve the stories of boarding school survivors. The impact of these cuts extends beyond financial losses, impeding the crucial work of documenting and sharing the traumatic legacy of Indigenous boarding schools. Efforts to address this historical injustice and support healing in Indigenous communities continue amidst these challenges.