C.R.S. Section 24-80-216
Federal Indian boarding school research program

  • recommendations
  • definitions
  • repeal

(1)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Federal Indian boarding school” means a boarding school for Native American youth authorized by the federal government that was not located on an Indian reservation.

(b)

“Program” means the federal Indian boarding school research program established in this section.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

There is established in the state historical society the federal Indian boarding school research program to research and make recommendations to promote Coloradans’ understanding of the physical and emotional abuse and deaths that occurred at and in relation to federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado, including the victimization of, and intergenerational impacts on, families of the youth forced to attend the boarding schools.

(b)

In addition to the consultation with the Southern Ute Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe described in this section, the society shall consult with the Colorado commission of Indian affairs, established pursuant to section 24-44-102, and may consult with any other federally recognized Indian tribe.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

As part of the program, the state historical society shall research the events, physical and emotional abuse, and deaths that occurred at the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis, which was known as the Fort Lewis Indian school, including the victimization of families of the youth forced to attend the school and the intergenerational impacts of the abuse. The society shall conduct the research described in subsection (3)(c) of this section; provide the commission, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe with periodic updates about its research; and shall deliver a final report to the commission, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe no later than June 30, 2023.

(b)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

The state historical society may enter into an agreement with a third-party research entity to conduct parts of the research described in this subsection (3).

(II)

In determining whether to enter into an agreement with a third-party research entity and selecting a third-party research entity, the society shall ensure that the society and any other party performing research collectively have:

(A)

Experience working with Indigenous communities;

(B)

An understanding of Native American history and culture, including the boarding school experience;

(C)

Native American team members;

(D)

An understanding of the impact of trauma and how it passes through generations;

(E)

One or more team members with experience as an archaeologist at Native American sites, including the performance of historical archaeological investigations;

(F)

One or more team members with experience in forensic anthropology;

(G)

Experience with, or meaningful understanding of, the federal “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act”, 25 U.S.C. sec. 3001et seq., or similar legislation;

(H)

Experience in the use of geospatial technology, ground penetrating radar, mapping, and other resources that may be utilized in the identification of underground burial sites;

(I)

Experience identifying human remains and disinterment; and

(J)

Experience interviewing victims of trauma.

(c)

The society shall, at a minimum:

(I)

Conduct research necessary to more accurately estimate the number of deaths at the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis;

(II)

Identify and map graves of Native American students buried at the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis and off-campus cemeteries by using research methods determined during consultation with the Southern Ute Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;

(III)

Review existing research and conduct new research as needed on existing resources and materials to reveal Native American student victims at the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis;

(IV)

Review written and recorded history and oral history describing the experiences and trauma of students attending the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis and their families; and

(V)

Interview those with knowledge of the experiences and trauma experienced by Native American students attending the federal Indian boarding school at Fort Lewis and the experiences, including intergenerational trauma, of the students’ families and descendants.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

After the state historical society delivers the final report on its research, it shall facilitate consultation with the commission, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to develop recommendations necessary to better understand the abuse that occurred at, and is related to, federal Indian boarding schools and to support tribal members healing from the effects of the abuse. In developing recommendations, the parties shall consider including recommendations for necessary immediate action, long-term goals, and any legislation necessary to implement any of its recommendations. The recommendations may include:

(I)

A process for repatriation of any identified Native American remains in a culturally appropriate manner, as determined following consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes;

(II)

A plan to provide support and services to tribal members to heal from the intergenerational impacts of federal Indian boarding schools and the related separation of families;

(III)

Education programs to make the public aware of information learned from the research conducted as part of the program and to teach students about the history of federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado;

(IV)

A process for transferring burial sites to tribal ownership;

(V)

Allowing tribal blessings to occur at the sites of federal Indian boarding schools and burial sites; and

(VI)

Any additional policies to support healing in tribal communities and to further determine the extent of, acknowledge, and educate Coloradans about, the abuse and victimization of students and families related to the operation of federal Indian boarding schools.

(b)

In developing the recommendations, the society, commission, the Southern Ute Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe may consult with any other federally recognized tribe whose children may have attended a federal Indian boarding school in Colorado.

(c)

On or before September 1, 2023, the society shall make the recommendations and a summary of the society’s research publicly available on the society’s website and shall deliver a written copy of the recommendations and summary of research to the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee, or their successor committees, the joint budget committee of the general assembly, the governor’s office, any state agency that is the subject of a recommendation, the Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the board of trustees for Fort Lewis college.

(5)

This section is repealed, effective December 31, 2023.

Source: Section 24-80-216 — Federal Indian boarding school research program - recommendations - definitions - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-24.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

24‑80‑101
Definitions 24‑80‑102
State archives and records - personnel - duties - cash fund - rules - definition 24‑80‑102.5
Custody of state property 24‑80‑102.7
Records management programs - records liaison officers 24‑80‑103
Determination of value - disposition 24‑80‑104
Transfer of records to archives 24‑80‑105
Disposal of records 24‑80‑106
Protection of records 24‑80‑107
Reproduction on film - evidence - digital scans 24‑80‑108
Access to records 24‑80‑109
Records may be replevined 24‑80‑110
Disagreement as to value of records 24‑80‑113
State archives - available storage space - report 24‑80‑115
State archivist - review of best practices - records advisory board 24‑80‑116
Display of original state constitution in state capitol - online display of state constitution - educational opportunities 24‑80‑201
Society an educational institution 24‑80‑201.5
State historical society - board - appointment - powers and duties 24‑80‑201.7
Directors council - creation - election - duties 24‑80‑202
Trustee for state - exchange duplicates - lending materials 24‑80‑202.5
Funding recommendations 24‑80‑203
Publications 24‑80‑204
Employees 24‑80‑205
Disposition of duplicate specimens - loans authorized 24‑80‑206
Society to accept gifts 24‑80‑207
Purpose of donations 24‑80‑208
Donations providing conditions on use 24‑80‑209
Title to property - disbursement of revenues - enterprise services cash fund - community museums cash fund - definition 24‑80‑210
Collections classed and catalogued 24‑80‑211
Society and division 24‑80‑212
Transfer of mineral exhibits and documents 24‑80‑213
Assistance from educational institutions 24‑80‑214
State museum cash fund 24‑80‑215
America 250 - Colorado 150 commission - creation - powers and duties - report - definitions - repeal 24‑80‑216
Federal Indian boarding school research program - recommendations - definitions - repeal 24‑80‑217
State historical society strategic initiatives fund - creation - repeal 24‑80‑301
County units 24‑80‑302
Office in county courthouse 24‑80‑303
County to pay expenses 24‑80‑304
Title to property 24‑80‑305
Custodian - finance board - indebtedness 24‑80‑306
Collection of material - expense 24‑80‑307
Duty of secretary-custodian - report 24‑80‑401
Title to historical, prehistorical, and archaeological resources 24‑80‑402
Administration of part 4 24‑80‑403
Office of state archaeologist - purpose 24‑80‑404
State archaeologist - appointment - qualifications 24‑80‑405
Objectives and duties of the state archaeologist 24‑80‑406
Permits 24‑80‑407
Agreements 24‑80‑408
Properties not owned by the state 24‑80‑409
Penalty - injunction - temporary restraining order 24‑80‑410
State monuments 24‑80‑411
Applicability of this part 4 to human remains 24‑80‑501
Monuments enumerated - control 24‑80‑502
Survey - report - acquisition 24‑80‑601
Name changed from Grand 24‑80‑602
Effect 24‑80‑701
Name changed from Veta peak 24‑80‑801
Penalty for damaging monuments 24‑80‑802
Historic trail - marking 24‑80‑803
Old Spanish trail - marking - legislative declaration 24‑80‑901
Size and description of seal 24‑80‑902
Punishment for illegal use 24‑80‑903
Secretary of state alone can affix - custodian 24‑80‑904
State flag 24‑80‑905
Columbine 24‑80‑906
Duty to protect 24‑80‑907
Limitation on picking state flower 24‑80‑908
Violation a misdemeanor - penalty 24‑80‑909
State song 24‑80‑909.5
State folk dance 24‑80‑910
Lark bunting 24‑80‑910.5
State pets 24‑80‑911
State animal 24‑80‑911.3
State reptile 24‑80‑911.4
State amphibian 24‑80‑911.5
State fish 24‑80‑912
State gemstone 24‑80‑912.5
State mineral 24‑80‑912.7
State rock 24‑80‑913
State insect 24‑80‑914
State museum 24‑80‑915
State cactus 24‑80‑1001
Legislative declaration 24‑80‑1201
Ghost towns - historical society may designate 24‑80‑1202
Destruction of ghost town - penalty 24‑80‑1301
Definitions 24‑80‑1302
Discovery of human remains 24‑80‑1303
Discovery of human remains during an anthropological investigation 24‑80‑1304
Rule-making authority - state archaeologist 24‑80‑1305
Violation and penalty 24‑80‑1401
Colorado veterans’ monument preservation trust fund - preservation trust committee - park name change
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 24-80-216’s source at colorado​.gov