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Bill would implement History Colorado recommendations to work towards social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities
DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to continue the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado. HB24-1444, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Leslie Herod, would implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long standing inequities faced by tribal communities.
“History Colorado’s research about the federal Indian boarding schools revealed the atrocities of the past; it left us with a choice on how to right these wrongs and better support our tribal communities today,” said Rep. Barbara Mclachlan, D-Durango. “This bill would extend History Colorado’s important research for another three years, acknowledging the abuse and forced assimilation and addressing some of the longstanding social, economic, and educational inequities still faced by our tribal communities.”
“We cannot erase the horrors of the past, but we must face them,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This bill directs the State of Colorado to continue to expose the truth about the American Indian boarding schools.”
HB24-1444, passed the House by a vote of 61 to 2. This bill would extend, in consultation with tribes, the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado until 2027. Enacted in 2022 through HB22-1327, this research program was tasked with researching the events, abuse, and deaths that occurred at American Indian boarding schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the findings from their report and recommendations in October of 2023, which revealed that nine institutions in the state attempted to assimilate American Indian students.
This bill would implement recommendations from History Colorado’s initial report, including ongoing research and tribal consultations with different historically impacted tribes and listening sessions with American Indian and Alaska Native communities on the history and impact of federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado. The program will also undertake the collection of oral histories of survivors through listening sessions that highlight American Indian narratives.
This bill would invest $1 million to continue the program and ensure consultation with different tribes and the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs in putting forward recommendations to work toward social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities by November 8, 2025.