The information I have read thus far has changed my view of
Native communities. It has expanded my knowledge and respect of the resiliency
of this culture. I have learned of all the persecution and oppression Indians
have to face since the arrival of the European settlers. This culminated when I
viewed the documentaries about the Indian boarding schools. I was shocked and appalled
that the U.S. government could treat children in such an unjust and harsh
manner. The concepts that motivated such schools in my opinion were essentially
techniques for ethnic cleansing. I found
it ironic that when such acts of ethic cleansing occurred in other regions of
the world that the media here in the U.S. is quick to denounce them. Yet, these
very acts of injustice occurred in our own land.
Indian boarding schools first appeared following the Civil
War. European Americans viewed Native Americans as uncivilized and wanted to
impose their values on the Natives. Before and after photographs were taken of
the Indian children at these schools (Marr, n.d.) . The children were taught
English and the Christian faith and their own languages and beliefs were
forcefully discouraged.
A child being forcefully taken away from their parents at an
early age is essentially psychological torture, considering how fragile a
child’s emotional state of mind is. In our modern society, people easily file
lawsuits for lesser offences. In trying to see something positive in this, I
think the whole boarding school ordeal reinforced the strength of the Native American
culture and the bond between family members. These schools did not succeed at
brainwashing Native children, perhaps it gave them even more reason to fight
for their cause and have a stronger resolve to gain justice.
Resources:
Ives, Stephen. (1996).
The Geography of Hope: The West. Indian Children at Boarding Schools.
Retrieved April 2, 2016 from: http://fod.infobase.com.library.esc.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=44416&loid=131292
Marr, Carolyn J. (n.d.). Assimilation Through Education:
Indian Boarding Schools in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington.
Retrieved April 2, 2016 from:
On top of a child being forcefully taken from their mother, in native American culture think about the impact that religion and belief in a higher power plays. Could natives who have had this torture question their own beliefs in mother nature and a higher power? sovereignty of the tribe would be called into question as well if tribal leaders let this happen to their own members
ReplyDeletewhat I thought was really interesting is that not all Boarding Schools were a government funded program. Many of the Boarding Schools were actually ran by the local Christians and funded through the church. In some cases, like that of Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas- tribal languages were allowed as long as it was not in the class room setting. The Albuquerque Indian School had it own football team, and while it was very strike, many of the children that attended that school flourished and graduated with high honors.
ReplyDeleteNative Americans children were expected to assimilate into the American way of life. That was the theory however, the reality was that it distance them from their culture. When these kids came home they were lost, they were not welcomed by their elders and they were not welcomed by society. This is one of many reasons why the boarding school programs were a bad idea.
ReplyDelete