GENOA, Neb. - The Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation marked its 35th annual Recognition and Remembrance Day on Saturday, August 9, inviting the public to learn about and confront the complex history of the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School.

The event served as a poignant reminder of the forced assimilation endured by thousands of Native American students in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Nickie Drozd, organizer of the Recognition and Remembrance Day, emphasized the lasting impact of the school, stating, "A lot of the students experienced trauma, and that historical trauma was passed down to relatives." Despite its troubled legacy, the school had areas where it excelled, notably its band and award-winning livestock breeding program.

The Genoa Indian Industrial School, which opened in 1884, aimed to assimilate Native American children from over 40 tribes into American society. Over its 50 years, the school grew to house nearly 600 students on a 640-acre campus.

Upon arrival, students, ranging in age from seven to twenty-two, faced harsh punishments and were forbidden to speak their native languages. They were given new "white" names, and their heads were shaved. Drozd recounted, "Many of those students arrived either by cattle car, train, or on the back of trucks that used to haul animals. They were also showered with kerosene, with some put on their heads to kill lice, and then they were all given uniforms."

Researchers have uncovered evidence of neglect and abuse, with at least 90 students found to have died while attending Genoa. To honor their memory, the foundation brought in a Spiritual Guide Roadmen to perform its first-ever Cedar ceremony for the school.

Despite the painful history, Drozd stressed the importance of sharing these stories and highlighting the efforts of indigenous activists and advocates who seek to bring this history to light.