- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Tune in this Friday as Levi Rickert, publisher and editor of Native News Online, interviews Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes on the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report - Vol. II.
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) last week released its second — and final — report following a three-year investigation into the “traumatic and violent” legacy of Indian Boarding Schools that the U.S. government operated for a century and a half.
The 105-page report, penned by Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community), builds on the first volume of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report, published May 11, 2022.
Barnes is a member of The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, who made testimony at the first Road to Healing tour listening session in Anadarko, Oklahoma.
Chief Barnes passionately advocates for truth, accountability, reconciliation, justice, education, and human rights. His work, however, extends beyond service to his nation, bringing together truths and traditions in framing and crafting tribal policy and law. Most recently, Barnes co-edited the book Replanting Cultures: Community-Engaged Scholarship in Indian Country.
Being a member of his people’s traditional religious community at White Oak, Okla., has framed Chief Barnes’ efforts to find redress to the harm traditional communities suffered from Indian boarding schools and reeducation centers. Looking through this lens has shaped Chief Barnes’ and the Shawnee Tribe’s efforts to find legislative activism at local, state and national levels, as well as a voice for Indigenous peoples at the United Nations.
On this episode of Native Bidaské, Chief Barnes gives his assessment of the final report and discusses its recommendations.
Tune into Native Bidaské LIVE this Friday, May 10th at Noon ET on Native News Online's Facebook, X (Twitter), or //www.youtube.com/@NativeNewsOnline/streams" style="text-decoration: none;">YouTube channel to be inspired.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Cheyenne River Youth Project Hosts Holiday Party, Prepares to Deliver Gifts to 1,000+ Children
Feds Release Media Guidelines for Reporting on MMIP Cases
Native Bidaské with Robert Maxim on the Recently Released Brookings Report on Indian Boarding Schools
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.
No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.