From 1879 to 1940, nearly 4,000 Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to one of 500 government-funded boarding schools where they were severely punished for speaking their native language and practicing their traditions. Some say that the abuse that occurred at these schools could be one of the underlying causes for the high rates of substance abuse and suicide in Native communities today. This May, White Bison—an American Indian non-profit organization that offers prevention, sobriety and recovery resources to Native Americans—will launch the Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness to help Native communities heal from this trauma.
