Museums at Indian Boarding Schools Are Shining Light on Their Survivors

Montooth's family history reveals the lasting impact of Indian boarding schools on Native communities. Her grandmother endured violence and trauma at the Stewart Indian School, which initiated a cycle of generational trauma and addiction in her family. Over 526 Indian boarding schools operated in the U.S., with many receiving federal funding. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition has compiled a public list of these schools to raise awareness of the trauma inflicted. They aim to educate travelers and locals through interactive resources and highlight the resilience of Native communities amid a history of forced assimilation.

"My grandma was four when she was brought [to Stewart], and she was raised in violence by the matrons. She never had an opportunity to learn parenting skills from her parents. That experience, in my family at least, was the start of violence, alcoholism, and generational trauma. I have relatives who still will not step foot out here because our grandma was abused on a regular basis."

"This list holds a remarkable opportunity for travelers to see the impacts that this history has on America at large. Ultimately, the goal is to bring the truth to light. And though the number of over 500 schools feels staggering, we can't lose sight that this is just a piece of a larger story of forced assimilation and Native resilience."

Read at Conde Nast Traveler