Warning: The story below contains details of Indigenous boarding schools that may be upsetting. The US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
For years, advocates in the United States have been pushing for a fuller accounting of the legacy of Indigenous boarding schools.
Starting from around 1819 and continuing through the 1960s, generations of Indigenous children were separated from their families and sent to the institutions, run by government or missionary organisations.
An estimated 100,000 children were sent to the schools during that period, although the exact number remains unknown. There, they were forced to assimilate into white American culture, and many faced outright abuse.
But while the US government has taken steps to address that troubling legacy as violence at the schools has come into increased focus in recent years, Indigenous leaders have questioned whether enough is being done.
Last year, Washington released the results of a first-of-its-kind investigation into the boarding schools and their policies. The initial report arrived under the leadership of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American woman to occupy the role.
Original from www.aljazeera.com