In the past, many native American children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in boarding schools run by the US government or religious organisations. These schools were often far away from the children's homes and aimed to assimilate Native American children into white society by suppressing their culture, language and traditions. The children were subjected to harsh conditions, physical and emotional abuse, and were often denied access to their native languages and religious practices. This experience had devastating effects on Native American communities and individuals and is now recognised as a form of cultural genocide.