Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation

05/22/2026

On behalf of the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation, thank you to Nebraska Public Media for your efforts to bring local and state awareness to the lost student graves and the vital work of preserving this history.

It is essential to cover this narrative given the convergence of recent political, historical, and investigative breakthroughs that directly impact Nebraska's Native communities, as well as the 40 tribes across America whose children attended the Genoa Indian Boarding School. We hope this piece provides insight, education, and healing for our readers and supporters.

The Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School operated from 1884 to 1934. Children from more than 40 tribes were brought to the sprawling campus in Genoa, Nebraska, a small community 110 miles west of Omaha. Today, no one can find the school's cemetery.

05/14/2026

Good evening friends and relatives, this is a picture from last year's first day of the Boarding School Survivors Memorial Walk. We are going to start this year's walk at the same place, the Genoa Indian boarding School interpretive center.
We will open the doors of the St Rose of Lima community center locationed at 116 n Elm St. Genoa Nebraska at noon on Sunday May 17th for walker registration. The walk will begin at 1pm following the route from last year.
We will return to the community center by 3 pm to prepare for a potluck dinner. There is a full kitchen for our use if anyone wants to cook.
More information TBA.

05/11/2026

The Genoa US Indian School Foundation's quarterly newsletter will now be published freely on Facebook.

Making the newsletter public is an essential step in promoting historical truth, fostering healing, and enabling descendant communities to access lost family history. It aids in reconstructing the stories of thousands of Native children, documenting the school’s impact, and supporting the Digital Reconciliation Project by sharing records, oral histories, and artifacts widely.

Publicly sharing these materials serves several vital purposes:

- Healing and Reconciliation: Access allows families to recover the stories of children who attended the school, often providing closure regarding experiences of abuse, illness, and loss.
- Preserving and Truth-Telling: It disseminates evidence of the federal policy of forced assimilation, detailing the experiences of Native American children from over 40 tribal nations.
- Accessibility for Research: It serves as a tool for researchers and educators to better understand this complex chapter of history through digital records and photographs.
- Connecting Descendants: It bridges the gap between historical records and descendants, empowering communities to engage directly with their own history.
- Educational Outreach: it raises awareness of the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School (1884–1934), ensuring the stories of survivors and those who passed away are never forgotten.

By sharing the newsletter, the Foundation supports the broader efforts of the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project to return these histories to the families and tribes to whom they belong.

Uthéamoⁿthiⁿ, Summer Copeland
President, Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation
genoaindianschoolmuseum.org/

"The path towards healing is in truth-telling."

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

🗣Save the date!

04/21/2026

The Genoa Indian School Interpretive Center will officially open for the 2026 season beginning May 1st, welcoming visitors to learn about the history and experiences of Native American students who attended the Genoa Indian School.

The Interpretive Center offers exhibits, photographs, and educational materials that share the stories of the school, its students, and its lasting impact. It serves as an important place for reflection, learning, and honoring those who were part of this history.

Hours of Operation for the season will be:

• Friday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Community members, families, and visitors are encouraged to visit the Interpretive Center during its open hours. The Genoa Indian School Interpretive Center remains committed to education, remembrance, and the preservation of history for future generations.

03/09/2026

"It was a deeply moving experience. I left the event with immense admiration for the resilience and courage displayed by these young people."

-Uthéamoⁿthiⁿ, Summer Copeland President, Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation

03/02/2026

The Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation-Wolfe Family Scholarship Application is now open to direct Native American descendants of Genoa U.S. Indian School students; consider applying today.

02/25/2026

Update!

📅 New date! Due to last week's weather cancelation, the Genoa Remembrance Day Panel will now be on Friday, March 6 at 5:30 PM.

Behind the quiet Nebraska landscape rests the memory of Native children taken from their families and silenced at the Genoa Indian Industrial School. This panel invites us to confront that history with honesty, honor those who never returned home, and understand how each of us can help carry truth and healing forward. Genoa Remembrance Day Panel Discussion will feature remarks by Judi Gaiashkibos, UNITE student led panel, and community conversations with refreshments.

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About the Genoa Indian Industrial School:

In operation from 1884 through 1934, The Indian Industrial School at Genoa was the fourth largest non-reservation boarding school established by the United States Office of Indian Affairs. The village of Genoa, Nebraska was selected because the U.S. federal government already owned the former Pawnee Reservation property there. The facility’s mission was to educate Native American children to assimilate them into American society. The students at Genoa Indian School were from more than ten states and over 40 different tribal nations. In time, the school grew from the original 74 students to an enrollment of 599 in a single year and encompassed over 30 buildings on 640 acres.

02/24/2026

We appreciate your attendance at the Genoa U.S Indian School Interpretive Center's Open House, which marked Nebraska's Remembrance Day 2026. The Memorial Stone at the school was illuminated in orange on February 20th, coinciding with several Nebraska landmarks, including the State Capitol, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) campus, and Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, to honor the memory of survivors and descendants of the Genoa Indian Industrial School. This annual day of remembrance acknowledges the traumatic experiences of children who attended the school, which operated from 1884 to 1934 as a federal policy aimed at forcibly assimilating Native American children.

Photography by Nickie Drozd.