• Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
Cloudy

Marquette
Cloudy 52°

Clear

Escanaba
Clear 54°

Cloudy

Houghton
Cloudy 55°

Clear

Iron Mountain
Clear 50°

Watch
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result

1 Weather Alert

View Details »

Native American Boarding Schools and their lasting impacts

by Andrew Hansz
May 14, 2025 - Updated on May 15, 2025
A A

ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Tom Biron is Crane Clan (Ajijawk Dodam) and a member of the Anishinaabe Ojibwe First Nation in Sault St. Marie.

He is a survivor of the Holy Childhood Boarding School of Harbor Springs, from 1956-1957, at just 5 years old.

“None of us really realized what it was,” said Biron.

Back in 1493, the Doctrine of Discovery declared that Christian nations had the divine right to claim lands inhabited by non-Christian peoples .

This ideology led to European colonization across the globe, including on Turtle Island, now called North America.

In 1819, Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act, directing money to missionary groups to ‘civilize’ Native children through religious education, still prominent throughout the late 1900s.

“We would come back as children,” continued Biron. “But we were told that we were going to be soldiers of Christ.”

Biron added that the United States have been around for almost 250 years, and in some ways are already more prosperous than most nations in that time. But across those years, common ground was nearly unobtainable.

“If people could sit down and realize ‘our families were here, why aren’t we prosperous?'” said Biron. “This is why this educational piece is so important. I think the real America is with all of us.”

Tom has been dedicated to sharing his story and others alike. Spreading this often untold side of history shows how its legacy, and the impacts of these boarding schools continue to be felt today.

The presentation was part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan’s program called, “Walking Together: Finding Common Ground.”

Get WZMQ 19 anytime, anywhere

Download the app

AppleAndroid

Watch on TV

RokuFire TVZeam

Connect on social media

FacebookTwitterInstagram

More

Image courtesy of the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office
News

Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing Ironwood Township man

August 24, 2025
With schools starting across the U.P., so comes the need for school supplies.
News

Hope Church donates school supplies

August 22, 2025
News

Rapid River and Gladstone schools prepare for new academic year

August 22, 2025
Image courtesy of the City of Escanaba
News

City of Escanaba promotes Sergeant Austin Young to Public Safety Captain

August 22, 2025
News

Nessel Sues Trump Administration Over Crime Victim Funding Conditions

August 22, 2025
News

Superior Watershed Partnership utilizing ‘BeBot’ to assist in Beach Cleanup initiatives

August 22, 2025
Next Post

Detroit Lions Schedule 2025

Green Bay Packers schedule 2025

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Events
  • Programming
  • Station
WZMQ CBS | 19 News

© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our privacy policy.