After a two-week archeological dig for a lost children’s cemetery near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska, no remains were found.
The state’s archeologist, Dave Williams, announced that the team plans to meet with representatives of 40 tribes across the U.S. on Zoom to determine next steps.
Judi gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, expressed disappointment at not finding the children’s remains but remains hopeful.
She acknowledged that it has been more than 90 years since their disappearance and is committed to finding answers.
The search for the lost children’s cemetery is ongoing, and the team is determined to uncover the truth about what happened to them.
The search for potential burial sites of Native American children has gained renewed interest in recent years after the discovery of hundreds of children’s remains at other boarding school sites across the U.S. and Canada.
To aid in the search, dogs trained to detect the odor of decaying remains were brought in to search the area last summer.
The dogs indicated that there could be a burial site in a strip of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks, and a canal.
In November, ground-penetrating radar was used to identify four anomalies in the shapes of graves.
Despite the indications from the dogs and radar, the excavation team led by Williams did not find the first anomaly they were seeking during the two weeks of digging.
This anomaly could have potentially contained the remains of Native American children who were forced to attend boarding schools and experienced abuse, neglect, and cultural erasure.
The search for these children’s remains is crucial for their families and communities to properly mourn and honor their lives.
The excavation team will continue their search for the burial site in hopes of bringing closure to those affected by this dark chapter in history.
Archaeology can be a challenging field, as evidenced by the recent search for the remains of Native American children who died while attending a boarding school in Canada.
Despite having evidence that pointed to a specific location, the ground did not reveal what was expected. The team will now reevaluate their data and work with the affected tribes to come up with a new plan.
There are still three other potential locations to search, but the team will only proceed with the consent of the tribes.
Ultimately, their goal is to find the remains of the children and give them a proper resting place. It’s a difficult task, but one that is important for honoring the lives lost and bringing closure to their descendants.
Sunshine Thomas-Bear, who is a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the cultural preservation director for the tribe, expressed her desire for more consultation with all 40 tribes, not just the ones in Nebraska.
She believes that this would have been beneficial before now and is looking forward to it happening more in the next phase.
This is a positive step towards cultural preservation and ensuring that all tribes are heard and represented.
It is important to acknowledge and respect the diversity of indigenous cultures and traditions, and this can only be achieved through open communication and collaboration.
As cultural preservation director, Sunshine Thomas-Bear is committed to promoting and preserving the unique heritage of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, as well as working towards the greater goal of preserving indigenous cultures across the country.
According to Thomas-Bear, the recent search yielded no results. However, he believes that this may be due to some tribes not being notified or present.
He maintains that everything happens for a reason and suggests that success may come if everyone works together towards a common goal.
It seems that there is still hope for finding what they are looking for, as long as they remain determined and united.
The Genoa Indian Industrial School was one of many boarding schools across the United States that aimed to assimilate Native American children into white culture.
These schools were part of a national system that sought to strip Indigenous people of their heritage, language, and traditions.
Children were forcibly separated from their families and forbidden from speaking their Native languages. The schools were known for inflicting physical, emotional, and sexual abuse on their students.
The impact of these schools is still felt today, as many Native American communities continue to grapple with the trauma and loss of culture caused by the boarding school system.
The Genoa Indian Industrial School serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of attempts to erase Indigenous identity and assimilate Native American people into white culture.
The school, situated approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha, has a rich history dating back to 1884. At its peak, the school was bustling with almost 600 students.
However, as time went on, the school eventually closed its doors in the 1930s. Sadly, most of the buildings that once stood tall and proud have long since been demolished.
Despite this, the memories and legacy of the school live on through the stories and experiences of those who attended and worked there.
The school’s impact on the surrounding community and beyond is undeniable, and its history continues to be a source of fascination for many.
Last year, the U.S. Interior Department, under the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland, made history by releasing a groundbreaking report.
Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary, oversaw the release of a report that named hundreds of schools that were supported by the federal government to strip Native Americans of their cultures and identities.
This report was a first-of-its-kind effort to acknowledge the harm that was inflicted upon Native American communities through the forced assimilation policies of the federal government.
For decades, Native American children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools where they were forbidden to speak their native languages, practice their cultural traditions, or express their identities.
The report identified more than 350 boarding schools that were funded by the federal government and operated by various religious organizations.
These schools were responsible for the forced assimilation of an estimated 100,000 Native American children between the late 1800s and the mid-1900s.
The release of this report was a significant moment for Native American communities and for the country as a whole.
It was an acknowledgment of the harm that was inflicted upon Native American children and families, and a recognition of the ongoing trauma that continues to affect these communities today.
Secretary Haaland, who has been a vocal advocate for Native American rights throughout her career, has made it a priority to address the legacy of these boarding schools and to work towards healing and reconciliation for Native American communities.
Her leadership on this issue is a powerful reminder of the importance of acknowledging and confronting the injustices of the past in order to build a more just and equitable future for all.
The tragedy of the schools where indigenous children were taken away from their families and forced to assimilate into Western culture is a dark chapter in history.
The discovery of the remains of at least 500 children at some of these schools is a painful reminder of the atrocities committed against them. However, the true extent of the damage is yet to be uncovered.
Efforts like the Nebraska dig are ongoing, and it is expected that the number of children who lost their lives at these schools will reach into the thousands or even tens of thousands.
It is a sobering thought, and a call to action to ensure that such injustices are never repeated. The memories of these children must be honored, and their stories must be told, so that we can learn from the mistakes of the past and work towards a better future for all.