Author Will Release Book on Indigenous Boarding Schools

Sierra Biidaaban Nadeau explores personal and historical impacts of Indigenous boarding schools in her new book.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Native American

Screen-print poster illustration of a cedar box with beadwork motifs and pine branches, evoking historical and cultural remembrance. — Journalist Sierra Biidaaban Nadeau will release her book, What the Ancestors Say, on September 29, 2026, documenting the history of Indigenous boarding schools. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe historical government policies continue to impact family traditions and cultural identity today?

Journalist Sierra Biidaaban Nadeau will release her book, What the Ancestors Say, on September 29, 2026. The work examines the history of Indigenous boarding schools, including personal family connections she uncovered.

Why it matters

The book seeks to bridge gaps in public knowledge regarding the history of Indigenous boarding schools and provide a sense of connection for the Indigenous community. It highlights the lasting effects of these institutions on cultural identity and family life.

A 2024 U.S. Department of Interior investigation identified 417 federally supported boarding schools, with five such facilities in Michigan. Data also records 973 deaths of children at these institutions nationwide.

The players

Sierra Biidaaban Nadeau

She is the journalist and author who researched and wrote the book What the Ancestors Say.

Cletus Antoine

He was the great-grandfather of Sierra Biidaaban Nadeau who attended an Indigenous boarding school.

U.S. Department of Interior

This federal agency is responsible for the 2024 investigation into the history of Indigenous boarding schools.

The details

Nadeau used historical student records, entry papers, and personal letters to document her great-grandfather Cletus Antoine's time at a boarding school. Her research explores how the boarding school experience directly contributed to behavioral shifts and cultural loss within her family line.

The Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School operated from 1893 to 1934.
Nadeau discovered her ancestor's records while reporting in 2021.
The Department of Interior published its investigation findings in 2024.
What the Ancestors Say is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026.

Culture Shift

This publication follows a pattern set by the 2024 U.S. Department of Interior investigation into Indigenous boarding schools. It reflects a growing societal trend of reconciling with historical policies through personal narrative and archival research.

Readers in Michigan can learn more about local institutions like the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. This information may assist families in conducting their own research into personal or ancestral history at former school sites.

The takeaway

Nadeau's work serves as a reminder of how personal archival research can help uncover and heal intergenerational trauma. It encourages individuals to look into their own family history to better understand their cultural roots.