SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Indian Affairs Department Cabinet Secretary, Lynn Trujillo issued the following statements today applauding the Department of Interior’s release of the “Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report” that details the harms perpetrated against Indian children between 1819 and 1969 when Indian children were forcibly separated from their families and sent to federally funded boarding schools at tender ages, many of whom never returned home.
“This report sheds light on the trauma caused by federal policies that sought to assimilate Indian children by removing them from their communities and stripping them of their language and cultural practices,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “Sadly, the federal government located many of these schools in New Mexico. Many tribal communities in our state are still healing and addressing intergenerational trauma caused by this systemic harm done to their people. We are reminded of the atrocities committed by these institutions and the importance of our continued support for cultural and linguistic revitalization and initiatives that strengthen tribes and pueblos.”
“Tribal members across the state have either been directly impacted by Indian boarding schools or have experienced intergenerational trauma passed down from their parents and grandparents,” Secretary Trujillo said. “Sadly, we still don’t know the true impact of this dark period in our nation’s history. The report issued by the Department of Interior begins the process of documenting the abuses and lives lost resulting from federal Indian policy. These harms must be acknowledged and addressed before healing is possible, and many in our communities are still waiting to be heard.”
Full report can be found here: Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report (bia.gov).
Since 2003 the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) has implemented groundbreaking state-Tribal policies intended to improve the quality of life for the state’s Native citizens. Our initiatives are designed to strengthen Tribal and state relations and address the challenges we face in our communities; challenges such as economic development, infrastructure improvement, the protection of our cultures and languages, health care accessibility, and educational opportunities for our most precious resource— our children. Learn more at www.iad.state.nm.us.