Casey Family Programs statement on Indian boarding schools

President Biden’s recent formal apology for the mistreatment of Native American children in boarding schools across the country is an important step in acknowledging the deep and lasting impact of colonization and these institutions on Native communities.

The forced removal of children from their families and communities, assimilation, cultural erasure and trauma experienced by generations of Indigenous children have left enduring scars that continue to affect families and communities today. By offering this apology, the administration recognized the profound impacts of the boarding school agenda: denying Indigenous humanity and rights, targeting children to cut their connection to their ancestors and their inheritance and their heritage. President Biden also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the well-being of Native children and families, a necessary step in reconciling harm.

Casey Family Programs has a long history of working with tribes to improve the well-being of their children and families. We partner in efforts that honor tribal sovereignty and support nation-building, help build capacity and support tribal-state efforts to effectively implement the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and its principles as the gold standard of child welfare practice.

Strong sovereign tribal nations keep children healthy, safe and connected with their families, relatives, tribal communities and cultures.

As we stated following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling upholding ICWA, Casey Family Programs is more committed than ever to supporting tribal nations in building hope for children and families and ensuring that ICWA is fully implemented as intended so that Indian children and families have every opportunity to thrive in their own homes and communities.

Working together, we can build Communities of Hope that ensure all families have what they need to raise safe, happy and healthy children.