The remains of nine Indigenous youth who died while at a U.S. government school over 100 years ago were turned over to their families. 

Philadelphia, July 15 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the remains of nine Indigenous youth who died while at a government school over 100 years ago were turned over to their families Wednesday. 

The Carlisle Indian School was founded by an Army officer in 1879.  Over 10,000 Native American children passed through its doors until 1918, where they were separated from their families and subjected to cultural genocide and neglect.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland participated in Wednesday’s ceremony with members of the Rosebud and Oglala Sioux Tribes.  Haaland, the first Native cabinet secretary, is leading an investigation into the ongoing impact of these residential boarding schools and will seek to identify more burial sites across the country.