14 Maka Akan Najin Black Elk with school c.png

Maka Akan Najin Black Elk (upper right corner) shows an image of a Catholic boarding school for Indigenous children during a panel discussion on Oct. 31 hosted by the Catholic Mobilizing Network. At such boarding schools, Black Elk said, Indigenous children were forced to give up their native languages and cultures and assimilate into Christianity and settler culture. They were also removed from their families and frequently suffered physical and sexual abuse, he said. (NCR Screenshot)