Fourteen Native American Girls Identified in Milwaukee

Researchers confirmed the identities of girls buried at Calvary Cemetery between 1884 and 1891.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Native American

Fourteen Native American Girls Identified in Milwaukee

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition has identified 14 Native American girls buried at Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee. Burial records confirm the girls, who died between 1884 and 1891, were between the ages of 9 and 20.

Why it matters

Identifying these individuals helps provide closure for descendants and acknowledges the history of students who died while attending boarding schools. The findings shed light on the circumstances surrounding these deaths during a period of forced assimilation.

The identified group includes girls between the ages of 9 and 20. A total of 11 of the 14 girls were members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

The players

National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

This non-profit organization works to uncover the truth about the boarding school era and supports healing for Native American communities.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians

This is a federally recognized tribe whose members were among those identified in the burial records at the Milwaukee cemetery.

The details

The coalition utilized historical documents and burial records to verify the identities of the deceased. The names, which include Angeline Lafornoise, Marie Jane Morris, and Matilda Smith, were initially reported by ICT News before being confirmed by the coalition.

The 14 girls died between 1884 and 1891.

Culture Shift

The identification of these 14 girls aligns with the broader federal push to locate and document the burial sites of Native American boarding school students. This shift reflects a growing societal commitment to acknowledging the historical trauma associated with assimilation programs.

Residents of Milwaukee may gain a deeper understanding of the history tied to Calvary Cemetery as these findings are shared. This process encourages local community engagement with historical preservation and reconciliation efforts.

The takeaway

The discovery underscores the importance of archival research in recovering forgotten histories of indigenous youth. Families and community members can now move forward with the recognition of those who were laid to rest far from home.