{
  "id": 10946453,
  "title": "Abducted, renamed, but still here – the art of the first Native New Yorkers and their fight for their land",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/abducted-renamed-but-still-here-the-art-of-the-first-native-new",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T13:00:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/30/native-american-lenape-art-exhibit"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Lenape, indigenous inhabitants of what is now New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, endured a brutal history of cultural genocide at the hands of the United States government. Between the 19th century and the early 20th century, over 500 Indian boarding schools were established, with the explicit goal of assimilating Native American children into mainstream American society. These institutions, often modeled after military academies, stripped children of their native names, forced them to adopt western names, and imposed strict uniforms and discipline. Richard Henry Pratt, the founder of the first such school, famously declared that their purpose was to \"kill the Indian, save the man.\"\n\nThese practices, which included physical and sexual abuse, resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 children, though the true number is likely much higher. Despite the documented atrocities, the US government did not formally apologize for the boarding school system until 2024, with President Joe Biden calling it \"one of the most horrific chapters in American history.\"\n\nDespite the brutal attempts at assimilation, the Lenape culture has persisted. A new exhibit highlights the vibrant and living nature of their traditions today.",
  "summary": "The US tried to forcibly assimilate the Lenape in brutal boarding schools, but a new exhibit proves their modern-day culture is vibrant and alive During the 19th century, the US government funded more than 500 “Indian boarding schools” aimed at forcibly assimilating Native American children into western culture. Students were taken from their families, frequently by force, and forced to cut their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}