The abuses of tribal boarding schools are in the past, but the schools are not, entirely. Arizona, once home to 47 federal Indian boarding schools, has eight tribal boarding schools today. They aren't perfect, advocates say, but a far cry from past horrors.
“Chilocco Indian School: A Generational Story,” a graphic novel written by Julie Pearson-Little Thunder with art and graphic direction from Johnnie Diacon and Jerry Bennett, is now available for free download. The novel was produced by the OSU Library’s Oklahoma Oral History Research Program in collaboration with the Chilocco National Alumni Association.
Confronting their harsh legacy, the United States has taken steps to establish a Native American Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It’s a move that’s long overdue.