Bill > HRes794

This resolution recognizes the week of September 30th as "National Orange Shirt Week" or "National Week of Remembrance" to honor and acknowledge the traumatic experiences of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children who were forcibly removed from their families and sent to Indian boarding schools between 1819 and the 1960s. The resolution details the historical context of these assimilation policies, which were designed to strip Indigenous children of their cultural identities, languages, and beliefs through federally funded, church-run schools. The document highlights the severe consequences of these policies, including widespread physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, high rates of child mortality, separation from families, and long-lasting intergenerational trauma. By establishing this week of remembrance, the resolution aims to raise public awareness about the devastating impacts of Indian boarding school policies, which have contributed to ongoing health disparities, mental health challenges, and cultural disruption in Indigenous communities. The resolution underscores the need for acknowledgment, healing, and understanding of this painful chapter in American history.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/794/all-info