Three Indigenous Children's Remains Returned Home After 130 Years

On Sept. 19, the remains of three children from the Fort Belknap Indian Community were returned home for burial in tribal lands after more than a century. The remains of Almeda Heavey Hair, Bishop L. Shield and John Bull were repatriated from the Carlisle boarding school cemetery in Pennsylvania. The journey included a passage through the Fort Peck reservation, including through Highway 2, passing the towns of Nashua and Frazer, before arriving at Fort Belknap as their final resting place.

As a result of their passage on Highway 2, Nashua and Frazer students, as well as community members, were a few of the hundreds gathered to honor this occasion as a large motorcade escorted the children across the state. Those in attendance wore orange, as part of the Every Child Matters, movement, which honors and raises awareness for the thousand of indigenous children who went to residential schools.

Raire Horsman was in attendance in Frazer with her partner, Patrick Redstone, and their daughter, Nikini Redstone. Horsman told the Courier, "It makes me very emotional to see them coming home, knowing that our family will be home in the next two years." Patrick's great-great-grandmother Christine Redstone will be returned to the Fort Peck reservation in 2026.

Ceremonies for the remains were Sept. 20, with two of the children being buried at traditional tribal burial grounds and one at the Lame Bull Cemetery alongside family members.

Further information on the three children are:

Almeda Heavy Hair (Heavy Hair on Side of the Head), Niece of Lamebull

Related to descendants of Lamebull

Entered Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, on April 13, 1890

Date of Death – Aug. 28, 1894 (16 years of age)

Bishop L. Shield (Sleeps High) – Father (Little Shield), Mother (Paunch Arm)

No known living descendants

Entered Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, on April 13, 1890

Date of Death – July 30, 1890 (17 years of age)

John Bull (Dwarf) – Family Members Unknown

No known living descendants

Entered Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, on April 13, 1890

Date of Death – May 7, 1891 (16 years of age)

Ernie Sugg was at the Frazer Powwow grands to witness the procession with his daughter, Maria Sugg. "It's kind of an honor since they're bring the children home ... to where they came from," Ernie said. "It means a lot."

Maria echoed her father, "And finally lay them to rest." The Suggs proudly displayed an Every Child Matters handwritten poster, orange writing to honor the returning children, on the back of their vehicle.

In April 2024, the U.S. Army announced that the remains of 11 children, including the three from above, would be disinterred and returned to family. This is the seventh year the Army has exhumed the remains of Native American children buried at Carlisle Barracks and returned to their families. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School operated between 1879 and 1918, of which more than 10,000 Native American children were enrolled, representing some 50 tribal nations.