In 2003, the United Church of Christ’s General Synod passed a resolution addressing the UCC’s role in supporting the shameful history of Indian Boarding Schools. These schools have their ideological roots in the Doctrine of Discovery, and institutionally began in 1869 with President Grant’s establishment of a “Board of Indian Commissioners” to distribute Indian territories to various Christian denominations for the purposes of building boarding schools (including Congregationalists, Christians, and the American Board of Foreign Missions). These schools had the dual intention of evangelization (to “kill the Indian and save the man”) and assimilation, that ultimately resulted in cultural genocide.

The 2003 resolution called on the UCC to: “be the first church denomination to acknowledge, confess, and accept its historic participation and accountability for the harm done through the establishment of boarding schools in the United States…”

As church, and a nation we need to acknowledge and confess this dark history and support reparations for the cultural, psychological, theological, and physical damage done. Confession needs to be coupled with action.

Last year Senator Warren and Representative Davids introduced the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act” (S. 2907/H.R. 5444). The legislation would establish a formal commission to investigate and document the history of Indian Boarding Schools and the ethnocide and violations of human rights that occurred as a result. The commission would, among other things, hold public hearings for victims and survivors to share their trauma and the ongoing impact of these schools, and ultimately offer recommendations to the government for further action.

Before this Congress ends we are calling on Congress to pass S. 2907/H.R. 5444 and create a Truth and Healing Commission to not only confess past sins but move our nation toward a restored future and a right relationship with tribal nations.