Episcopal Bishop Apologizes to Crow Creek Sioux for Church's Role in Boarding Schools
Bishop Jonathan Folts of the Episcopal Church has formally apologized to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe for the Church's role in operating Indigenous boarding schools. The apology, made on Aug. 16, acknowledges the devastating impact of these schools on Native American communities, including the loss of language, culture, and lives.
The boarding schools, designed to assimilate Native Americans into the dominant white culture, had a profound and lasting effect. Estimates suggest nearly 1,000 children died during the 19th and 20th centuries, with some placing the number as high as 40,000. The life expectancy of tribal members today, at 45 years, remains significantly below the national average, a stark reminder of the generational trauma inflicted.
The Crow Creek Sioux, descendants of the Mdewakanton Dakota of Minnesota, have been particularly affected. The Crow Creek Dormitory, one of the 34 schools with Episcopal ties, was located on their reservation. Despite the schools' closure, the 'boarding school cycle' of abuse and neglect continues to impact many families today.
Bishop Folts' apology is a significant step in rebuilding trust and relationships. It follows a pattern of similar apologies from other institutions involved in running these schools. The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and the Diocese of South Dakota are now working to develop a 'beautiful relationship', seeking to heal the wounds of the past and build a better future together.
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