On Wednesday, May 11, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland will host a press conference to discuss progress on the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative and the release of Volume 1 of an investigative report led by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland.

Between 1819 through the 1960s, the United States implemented policies establishing and supporting Indian boarding schools across the nation. The purpose of federal Indian boarding schools was to culturally assimilate American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children by forcibly removing them from their families, communities, languages, religions and cultural beliefs. While children attended federal boarding schools, many endured physical and emotional abuse and, in some cases, died.

In June 2021, Secretary Haaland announced the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive effort to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies with the goal of addressing their intergenerational impact and to shed light on the traumas of the past. The announcement directed the Department, under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary, to prepare a report detailing available historical records relating to federal Indian boarding schools and to develop the first official list of sites.

WHAT: Press conference to announce next steps in Federal Boarding School Initiative

WHEN: Wednesday, May 11 at 12:30 PM ET

WHERE: Washington, D.C. with call-in capabilities

WHO:

• Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
• Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland
• National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Chief Executive Officer Deborah Parker

RSVP: Space is limited for in-person attendance. Credentialed members of the media interested in joining should RSVP to Tyler Cherry at tyler_cherry@ios.doi.gov by Tuesday, May 10 at 2:00 PM ET and indicate interest regarding in-person attendance or call-in capabilities. Location specifics will be sent upon RSVP confirmation.