Archaeologists have commenced an excavation in central Nebraska, hoping to locate a long-lost cemetery believed to hold the remains of up to 80 students from the Genoa Indian Industrial School. This institution, operating from 1884 to 1931, was part of a network of boarding schools designed to assimilate Indigenous children into white American society, often by separating them from their families and cultural heritage. The school, located approximately 90 miles west of Omaha, housed nearly 600 students from over 40 tribes at its peak.

The search for the cemetery has spanned decades, involving Genoa residents, Native American communities, researchers, and state officials. Records, including newspaper articles and a student letter, indicate at least 86 student deaths at the school, primarily from diseases like tuberculosis and typhoid. While 49 children have been identified, the names of 37 remain unknown. Some bodies were returned to families, but many are thought to be buried on school grounds in an unmarked location. Last summer, cadaver dogs indicated a potential burial site in an area bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks, and a canal. Ground-penetrating radar later corroborated this finding, revealing areas consistent with graves.

The excavation, expected to last several days, will initially focus on verifying the radar findings. If human remains are discovered, the State Archaeology Office, in collaboration with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, will determine the next steps. Options include re-interment with a memorial or returning the remains to their respective tribes. DNA analysis could potentially identify the regions of origin for the children, but pinpointing specific tribes may prove challenging. Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and whose mother attended the school, emphasized the significance of the search for healing and giving voice to the children lost at Genoa.

This effort coincides with a broader federal investigation into the Native American boarding school system. The U.S. Department of the Interior, under Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, released an initial report in 2022 and is currently compiling a more comprehensive follow-up.