A Truth and Healing process is a commitment to acknowledging and examining the trauma that is part of our history as an Indian boarding school. Boarding school survivors, their families, and loved ones are provided resources and spaces to share their stories and experiences. We will, in turn, do everything in our power to provide information and support healing, within the Red Cloud community, across the reservation, and beyond.

This process will hopefully lead individuals impacted by the history of Indian boarding schools on a path toward healing. From truth and healing processes that have happened before around the world we know we must begin always with the truth. And while this may be the most difficult step to take, it is also not the end of the journey. There are four phases in a truth and healing process identified and developed by Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Braveheart, the Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico.

Confrontation

Also described as the truth-telling phase, the confrontation for the institution begins with an admission of wrongdoing and transparency in the process of opening records and archives. The community of willing survivors and descendants are provided spaces and platforms by which to share their stories and have their stories listened to.

Understanding

When stories are told and the grief of trauma unearthed it is now important for that historical trauma to be processed. Survivors and descendants will need support in building a collective understanding of their trauma and how it has impacted them and their communities' lives. Non-survivors and descendants will need education and capacity building to gain as much insight as possible into the impact of this trauma historically and today.

Healing

In this stage, the community of survivors and descendants are invited to determine methods by which symbolically or through more literal methods the traumatic past and experiences can be overcome. These outcomes are highly dependent on the community and the institutions continued relationship and mutual understanding, collaboration, and mutual agreement.

Transformation

In this stage, the outcomes of the healing stage are made manifest in changed relationships. A new relationship is formed and new norms are invited to be lived out. This outcome is also heavily dependent on the community itself. But we know those who partake in this process cannot go through it and come out behaving and embodying the same structures as before. New relationships may mean new challenges and thus, it is also important to recognize that transformation does not mean trauma is forgotten, rather a transformation invites all to a reflective process that continues in perpetuity.

The phases are not always linear, in fact, when someone confronts their trauma, they may come to understand its impact better, and then find a path to healing very quickly or it may take years. At times, there are individuals who are not ready to confront their trauma, or who cannot move past that into understanding. It is important to recognize that transformative relationships are not achieved by all. Every journey is an individual one and the work to heal is a lifelong process.

Truth and Healing Advisory Committee

The Truth and Healing Advisory Committee originated in the fall of 2019 when a small committee was formed to collectively learn more about truth, healing, and reconciliation processes in the U.S. and around the world. This group together experienced the 2nd Annual National Native American Boarding School Healing Conference in Tulalip, Washington. After that experience the group met twice a month to discuss, learn, and form recommendations for Red Cloud Indian School. This group will continue to meet and expand membership to include more members of the wider community.

Committee Members

Fr. Brad Held S.J. (August 2019)
Fr. Held is in his second stint at Red Cloud, but his first one here as a priest. He currently serves as Pastor of the Reservation, which is the chief administrator of the Catholic community on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He ensures the people’s sacramental and pastoral care as well as oversees and directs all areas of pastoral ministry on the reservation, in collaboration with the other priests, religious, and laity serving our churches. From 2011-2014, during his Jesuit formation, he served as a teacher and campus minister at Red Cloud High School. He left Red Cloud in 2014 to complete theology studies at Boston College in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Held was ordained in June 2017 and then served as a teacher and campus minister at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. He began service as Pastor of the Reservation in June 2019.

Christina Johnston (Dine) (August 2019))
Christina Johnston has been a Lakȟota language teacher at Red Cloud High School for the past 3 years. She has been a passionate advocate for Lakȟota language and cultural revitalization and has worked outside of her teaching to support cultural learning. She believes in empowering young Lakȟota people to take pride in their identity, culture, and language.

Angela Stover (Oglala Lakota) (August 2019))
Angela Stover is a 2nd generation graduate of Oglala Community Boarding School, a 30 year employee of the Oglala Lakota County Public School systems and most recently for the last 18 years has enjoyed her duties and ministry as the Office Manager of Sacred Heart Church located in Pine RIdge. Angela is also a mother of 3 sons and grandmother to 12 and great grandmother to 5. Angela’s deepest passion has been to help her people heal from the historical trauma of the last 7 generations. Her work with the Truth and Healing has become an important aspect of helping to bring about a pathway of the Healing of her people.

Kelly Steever (August 2019)
Kelly Steever has been a 4th grade teacher at OLL for the past 3 years. She majored in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology and then worked as a missionary in San Francisco and Mexico, promoting social justice mainly among immigrant communities. She has a passion for teaching and loves engaging in meaningful conversations with her students. The Truth and Healing work is deeply important to her in building awareness and tolerance in our community and recognizes the great need for this work. She is willing to be a humble collaborator, eager to engage in earnest dialogue and active listening.

Rev. James M. Weiss (September 2020)
Fr. James Weiss has taught theology at Boston College since 1979, where he offers an undergraduate year-long sequence in social justice. He has been a longtime supporter of Red Cloud and has recently joined the Board of Directors. An Episcopal priest and spiritual director who has served inner city parishes, he now serves the Commission on Ordained Ministry for his Diocese. A church historian with interest in Lakota history, he is also an academic expert on the papacy and the College of Cardinals and has widely advised the press and media during the last two papal transitions. He brings his professional training as a historian and his teaching of social justice to the work of truth and healing.