Native American tribes are demanding the U.S. government account for an estimated $23.3 billion of tribal trust money allegedly misappropriated to fund boarding schools where indigenous children suffered widespread abuse and cultural destruction.
Key Takeaways
- The Wichita Tribe and Washoe Tribe have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government for misusing tribal trust funds to finance boarding schools where Native children were subjected to abuse.
- The government allegedly used money from treaties that forced tribes to cede their lands, funds that were supposed to be held in trust for tribes’ benefit.
- Federal authorities have failed to account for the estimated $23.3 billion appropriated for the boarding school program or provide details on remaining funds.
- The lawsuit names Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Indian Education as defendants.
- President Biden previously issued a formal apology for the boarding school policy, calling it “a sin on our soul” and “one of the most horrific chapters” in American history.
Tribal Nations Take Legal Action Against Federal Government
Two tribal nations have launched a significant legal challenge against the federal government’s historical mishandling of Native American resources. The Wichita Tribe and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California have filed a lawsuit alleging that the U.S. government diverted tribal trust fund money to finance boarding schools that became notorious sites of abuse against Native children. This legal action represents not just a demand for financial accountability but confronts a dark chapter of American history that continues to affect indigenous communities today.
“The United States Government, the trustee over Native children’s education and these funds, has never accounted for the funds that it took, or detailed how, or even whether, those funds were ultimately expended. It has failed to identify any funds that remain” According to lawsuit
At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that money from treaties that forced tribes to cede their lands – funds legally required to be held in trust for the tribes’ benefit – was instead redirected to fund a boarding school system designed to strip Native children of their cultural identity. The Interior Department’s 2022 report confirmed that these schools functioned as tools for cultural assimilation and land dispossession, revealing the systematic nature of the government’s approach to Native peoples during this era.
Billions Unaccounted For in Federal Trust Funds
The legal action seeks an accounting of approximately $23.3 billion that was appropriated for the boarding school program, with specific details requested about any remaining funds. This massive sum represents not just financial resources but the tangible value of lands and rights ceded by tribes under treaty obligations. The government’s failure to properly account for these funds represents both a financial breach and a continuation of historical injustices that have plagued federal-tribal relations for centuries.
“a sin on our soul” Said President Joe Biden
The lawsuit names several key defendants, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Indian Education. These agencies bear direct responsibility for the management of tribal trust resources and the oversight of education programs serving Native communities. Their failure to maintain proper accounting and ensure the appropriate use of tribal funds forms the central claim of the legal action, highlighting deep institutional failures in the federal government’s fulfillment of its trust responsibilities.
Historical Reckoning and Political Responses
While the Biden administration has acknowledged the historical wrongs of the boarding school era, with Biden himself issuing a formal apology and describing it as “one of the most horrific chapters” in American history, the lawsuit suggests that symbolic gestures fall short of the concrete accountability demanded by tribal nations. The federal government’s approach to addressing historical injustices against Native peoples has been inconsistent across administrations, with varying levels of commitment to transparency and restitution.
“one of the most horrific chapters” Said President Biden
Records indicate that under previous administrations, funding for initiatives aimed at documenting and preserving the stories of boarding school survivors faced cuts, including a $1.6 million reduction during the Trump administration. These funding decisions reflect broader tensions in how the federal government allocates resources to address historical wrongs against Native peoples. The current lawsuit serves as a powerful reminder that beyond rhetoric and symbolic gestures, Native tribes are demanding tangible accountability and transparency about the resources that rightfully belong to their communities.
