What happened to the kids at Indian boarding schools?

At Indian boarding schools in the United States and Canada, Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities to assimilate into Euro-American culture. Many experienced harsh conditions, including physical and emotional abuse, and were prohibited from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultures. The objective was to "civilize" them, often leading to long-term trauma and loss of cultural identity. Recent investigations have revealed high rates of neglect and mortality, with unmarked graves found at several former school sites, highlighting the devastating impact of this policy on Indigenous communities.