Archaeologists seek answers on deaths at Native American school

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
12 Jul 2023 15:03

The excavation process is expected to take several days as archaeologists carefully examine the soil to determine if it contains grave-like features or human remains.

A searcher uses ground-penetrating radar at the former Genoa Indian industrial school where more than 80 Native American children are thought to be buried. (AP)

Archaeologists are currently conducting excavations to locate the graves of children who died at the Genoa Indian industrial school in Nebraska. This school was part of a nationwide system of Native American boarding schools that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families and culture. The Genoa school closed in 1931, and the burial sites of the deceased children have remained unknown for many years.

Using historical sources such as newspaper clippings, records, and a student's letter, researchers have managed to identify the names of 49 children who died at the school. However, the names of 37 children are still missing. While some children were returned to their families upon death, others were believed to be buried on the school grounds, although the exact location remains unknown. The local community, along with Native Americans, researchers, and state officials, have collaborated in an effort to locate a forgotten cemetery where it is believed that up to 80 students may have been buried.

During the previous summer, trained dogs detected the odor of decomposed remains in a small area near a farm field, railroad tracks, and a canal. Additionally, ground-penetrating radar scans conducted in November revealed features consistent with graves. However, excavation work is necessary to confirm the presence of human remains.

The excavation process is expected to take several days as archaeologists carefully examine the soil to determine if it contains grave-like features or human remains. If human remains are discovered, the Nebraska State Archaeology Office will work with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to decide the next course of action. Options include reburial at the site with the establishment of a memorial or the exhumation and return of the remains to their respective tribes. Identifying the specific tribes may present challenges, but DNA analysis could potentially provide information about the regions the children came from.

The discovery of these graves at the Genoa Indian industrial school is part of a wider investigation into the Native American boarding school system by the US federal government. Led by Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, an initial report was released in 2022, and further research is ongoing. It is estimated that the number of deaths at such schools could range in the thousands or even tens of thousands.

The excavation site carries immense significance for Native American communities, as the traumatic legacy of the boarding school system has had far-reaching effects across generations. Efforts to heal and support Indigenous people are ongoing, and the excavation work at Genoa represents a step forward in acknowledging and addressing this painful history.