A voice for healing and understanding
UND alumna and boarding school survivor Ramona Klein shares her story during Indigenous Peoples’ Day presentation
When Ramona Klein was 7 years old, she boarded a bus in Belcourt, N.D., with her siblings, not knowing where they were going or when they would see their family again.
The destination was the Fort Totten Indian Boarding School, where Klein would spend four years of her childhood and experience trauma that continues to affect her decades later.
Klein, a three-time University of North Dakota graduate and citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, shared her experiences during an Indigenous Peoples’ Day presentation at UND on Oct. 12.
Through personal stories and objects representing her childhood, Klein described the harsh conditions, physical abuse and separation from family that characterized her years at the boarding school.
She recalled having her hair cut upon arrival, being subjected to painful disciplinary practices and enduring profound loneliness. She also spoke about the lasting effects of boarding schools on Indigenous families, including the loss of language, culture and connections between generations.
“I think it is critical for citizens of this country and globally to have an understanding of the impact that the Native American boarding schools had on all of us,” Klein told the audience.
Despite those experiences, Klein went on to build a distinguished career in education, earning three degrees from UND: a bachelor’s degree in 1974, a master’s degree in 1978 and a doctorate in 1981.
Today, she serves as vice president of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, advocating for survivors and their descendants. She also has testified before Congress in support of legislation addressing the boarding school era.
Klein is sharing more of her story in an upcoming memoir, “Teaching Heart: My Life from a Native American Boarding School to Leader in Education,” scheduled for release in spring 2027.
Throughout her presentation, Klein emphasized the importance of listening to survivors and understanding how historical trauma continues to affect Indigenous communities.
“I hope I’m just one of those voices that could help educate about this time in history,” she said.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Day event was sponsored by UND’s Department of Community & Belonging.
