Project Return Helps Native Boarding School Survivors Reclaim Records
Project Return Helps Native Boarding School Survivors Reclaim Their Records
The Project Return initiative is helping survivors of the federal Indian boarding school system reconnect with a part of their personal history by providing free, confidential access to school records and personal keepsakes.
The program is a partnership between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the University of Iowa Native Policy Lab, offering living survivors an opportunity to recover documents and belongings connected to their time in the federal boarding school system.
Project Return Provides Confidential Record Searches
Project Return is currently available only to living survivors of the federal Indian boarding school system.
According to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, researchers with the University of Iowa Native Policy Lab conduct archival searches at no cost to participants.
The records are provided confidentially and are not shared or used for research, ensuring survivors maintain complete privacy throughout the process.
In addition to official school records, researchers may also locate photographs, correspondence and other personal keepsakes preserved in historical archives.
Survivors may submit requests online through the University of Iowa Native Policy Lab or complete paper applications available at Choctaw Nation Community Centers.
Oklahoma Was Home To The Nation's Largest Boarding School Network
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Oklahoma was home to 87 federal Indian boarding school sites, the highest number of any state in the country.
The schools were part of a nationwide federal system that sought to separate Native American children from their families, languages and cultural traditions.
Many boarding schools changed names or relocated over time, meaning a single institution may be represented by multiple historical sites across Oklahoma.
In recent years, federal officials have continued documenting the lasting impact of the boarding school system while working with tribal nations to preserve records and support survivors seeking information about their experiences.
Initiative Supports Healing And Historical Preservation
Leaders with the Choctaw Nation say Project Return is designed to help survivors reconnect with an important part of their personal history while ensuring their privacy is protected throughout the process.
The initiative reflects broader efforts by tribes, historians and researchers to preserve historical records and provide Native families with access to information that may have been unavailable for generations.
Eligible survivors can submit requests through the University of Iowa Native Policy Lab or obtain application forms at any Choctaw Nation Community Center. Individuals with questions about the application process may also contact the Native Policy Lab directly for additional assistance.
Organizers emphasize that every request is handled confidentially, provided free of charge and intended solely to return historical records to the survivors to whom they belong.
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