National Day of Remembrance coincides with boarding school bill

The annual National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian boarding school survivors will be held Sept. 16, according to ICT. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is hosting the D.C. event, themed “Always in our hearts,” at the Indian Gaming Association building. Vigils and gatherings are also scheduled across Indian Country.

The observance coincides with the National Congress of American Indians Tribal Unity Impact Days, which bring tribal leaders to Capitol Hill to advocate for priorities such as appropriations, public safety and self-determination. It also overlaps with congressional consideration of the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. The bill, reintroduced in March by Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Elizabeth Warren, would establish a commission to investigate boarding school histories and recommend federal actions to support survivors and descendants, ICT reported.