The Rindle Long was around eight years old when she attended her first federal Indian boarding

school in Arizona.

It was not easy.

I was in fourth grade and I was tiny and he just hit me and I balanced against the

Sundar block wall and I was in shock and I started crying and he just said some curse words

to me.

Long is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and a survivor.

She is among thousands of people sent to these schools forcibly taken from their families

to assimilate into white culture.

The schools have a long history of abuse.

And I know some kids would run away and some kids would die from running away.

Get harmed from running away.

A year ago, the federal government acknowledged its role in the system.

The senior secretary, Deb Holland, launched a listening tour called The Road to Healing,

where she speaks with survivors.

Long shared her story with Holland last summer at Riverside Indian School in Southwest

Oklahoma, where she now lives.

Riverside is still operating today, but with a very different mission.

Now Long has taken it upon herself to care for younger Navajo students who move from

home to attend Riverside.

I want to encourage you to have an education.

I want, you know, I'm here if you all ever need me, you know, just call on me.

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