KESHENA, WI-Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Chairwoman Gena Kakkak joined President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One on a historic journey to the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona on October 24th.
This visit culminated in the President’s formal apology on behalf of the United States for the trauma inflicted by the federal government’s Indian boarding school assimilation policies. Chairwoman Kakkak was one of six tribal leaders who spoke directly with President Biden during the flight, discussing key issues such as tribal sovereignty, treaty responsibilities, and the essential role of language and cultural investments in indigenous communities’ healing.
“Joining the President aboard Air Force One was an honor and an unexpected opportunity to advocate for our communities,” Chairwoman Kakkak stated. “We were able to discuss the deep impacts of boarding schools and highlight critical areas in need of support.”
On October 25, President Biden, alongside Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, addressed the Gila River Indian Community, issuing a formal apology for the tragic boarding school era, which saw hundreds of thousands of Native American children removed from their homes from 1869 to the 1960s. Children as young as four endured widespread physical, mental, and emotional abuse, with countless children never returning home. Biden acknowledged this chapter as “one of the most horrific in American history.”
Chairwoman Kakkak reflected on the momentous apology: “This step acknowledges the voices of our survivors, the spirits of those who did not make it home, and the resiliency of our communities who bear the scars of intergenerational trauma. Our communities, especially our elders, have waited a long time for this.”
Chairwoman Kakkak expressed hope that the apology would lead to increased support for language and cultural revitalization programs, as well as expanded mental health resources for Native communities. “While this is a historic step,” she said, “it’s only the beginning. Addressing the impacts of intergenerational trauma will require ongoing investment in the very things that were taken from us. This is a step forward, and we look forward to working with the federal government in a way that fosters healing for the Menominee and all of Indian Country.”
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