This bill establishes a commission to investigate the history and ongoing impacts of U.S. federal Indian boarding school policies, mandates the search for burial sites, and strengthens repatriation laws for associated cultural items.
Tom Cole
Representative
OK-4
The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026 establishes a commission to investigate the history and ongoing impacts of U.S. Indian boarding school policies. This legislation mandates the gathering of survivor testimony and the search for student burial sites across the country. It also creates advisory committees to ensure Native communities guide the process and clarifies existing laws to facilitate the repatriation and respectful reburial of cultural items. Ultimately, the Act aims to provide a formal record, promote healing, and recommend necessary policy changes to Congress.
New Commission to Investigate Indian Boarding School Legacy: 4-Year Deep Dive into Historical Impacts and Healing
The U.S. government is taking a formal look back at a dark chapter of its history with the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. This bill creates a dedicated commission to investigate the federal policies that forced Native American children into boarding schools—systems often designed to strip away their culture and language. This isn't just a history project; the commission has a four-year window to gather testimony from survivors, locate burial sites, and recommend concrete actions like reparations and policy changes to address the long-term trauma these schools left behind.
A Search for Answers and Closure
One of the most significant parts of this bill involves the physical search for student burial sites. Under Title I, the commission is tasked with locating and identifying both marked and unmarked graves of children who never made it home. For families who have spent generations wondering what happened to their ancestors, this provides a formal, federally-funded process to find answers. The bill also clarifies in Title III that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) applies here, meaning tribes and descendants have the legal right to bring cultural items and remains back to their communities for reburial on federal land.
Who’s at the Table
To make sure this doesn't become another bureaucratic exercise, the bill sets up a specific hierarchy of voices. There’s a Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee to ensure the people who actually lived through the system are leading the conversation. Additionally, two advisory committees will guide the work: one made up of 19 members from Native American Tribes and organizations, and another 20-member group including federal officials and representatives from religious institutions that operated these schools. This structure is designed to force cooperation, requiring religious groups and agencies to hand over documents and testimony that might have been buried for decades.
Transparency and the Fine Print
While the bill aims for truth, there are some procedural hurdles that might raise an eyebrow for those who value total transparency. Title II grants these advisory committees exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. While this is likely intended to protect the privacy of survivors sharing deeply personal trauma, it also means the internal deliberations and communications of the federal and religious representatives won't be accessible to the public. For a commission built on 'truth,' this creates a bit of a closed-door environment for the people being investigated.
The Long-Term Impact
For the average person, the impact of this bill shows up in how our government accounts for past actions. If you’re a taxpayer, the final report—due in four years—could recommend significant financial reparations or new federal programs for trauma-informed care. For federal agencies and religious organizations, the bill means a period of intense scrutiny and potential legal obligations to return land or artifacts. Ultimately, the bill sets a precedent that the government can be held accountable for the long-term social and economic effects of its historical policies.