Almeda Heavy Hair : “Fort Belknap Children’s Remains Disinterred”

By | April 10, 2024

By Trend News Line 2024-04-10 17:38:08.

**Historical Discovery Unveiled**

You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage

In a groundbreaking announcement, the U.S. Army revealed plans to disinter the remains of 11 Native American children, including three from a north-central Montana tribe, buried at the historic Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. This poignant decision marks the seventh year that the Army has exhumed the remains of indigenous children and returned them to their respective families.

**Tribal Identification**

The 11 children, hailing from six different tribes, have been identified as Almeda Heavy Hair, Bishop L. Shield, John Bull from the Gros Ventre Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Fanny Chargingshield, James Cornman, Samuel Flying Horse from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Leonidas Chawa from the Pechanga Band, Albert Mekko from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Alfred Charko, Kati Rosskidwits from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, and William Norkok from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. These young souls were laid to rest over a century ago, their stories hidden beneath the layers of time.

**Meticulous Process**

You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?

The Office of Army Cemeteries is set to commence the disinterment process in September, with the Army Corps of Engineers providing expert forensic archaeological and anthropological support. Families and tribes will have the solemn task of choosing the final resting place for these children, with the Army bearing the expenses for the entire journey, from witnessing the disinterment to the transportation and reinterment of the remains.

**Legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School**

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School, operational from 1879 to 1918, holds a somber legacy in American history. Over 10,000 Native American children from approximately 50 tribal nations were forcibly enrolled in the school, where they endured cultural erasure and assimilation tactics. The decision to repatriate the remains of these children stands as a small yet significant step towards acknowledging and rectifying this dark chapter of the past.

**Triumphant Return**

In a poignant display of remembrance and closure, the U.S. Army recently returned the remains of a Blackfeet child, Launey Short, who passed away at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, to their family in a dignified transfer. This heartfelt gesture signifies a commitment to honouring the memories and identities of those who were unjustly taken from their communities.

**Long-Awaited Reunion**

The Fort Peck Tribes have also taken steps to reclaim their history, signing claims for the disinterment and repatriation of two of their own. Peter Howe, who succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 16, and Christine Redstone, who passed away at 24, are set to be returned to their ancestral lands. The Fort Peck Tribes anticipate that the earliest repatriation date for these cherished individuals is slated for September 2026.

**A Journey Home**

As the nation grapples with its fraught history of Indigenous boarding schools, the process of returning the remains of these children to their families serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and enduring spirit of Native communities. The solemn act of repatriation signifies a profound moment of healing and reconciliation, as the voices of the past are finally given the recognition and respect they deserve..

Remains of Fort Belknap children disinterred former boarding school
Fort Belknap children disinterred former boarding school.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *