Indian Boarding Schools

1. Indian Boarding Schools 1868 - 1974

2. The Indian Schools �We can end the [Indian�s] existence among us as such separate people by a broad and generous system of English education and training, which will reach all the 50,000 children and in a few years remove all our trouble from them as a separate people and as separate tribes among us, and instead of feeding, clothing and caring for them from year to year, put them in condition to feed clothe and care for themselves.� Our experiences in many individual cases in the last few years make it evident that not only may we fit him to go and come . . . where ever he may choose, and so lose his identity� -- Capt. Richard Pratt - Founder of Carlisle Indian School

3. Another quote from Richard Pratt. . .�Kill the Indian, save the man.� The federal government began sending American Indians to off-reservation boarding schools in the 1870s, when the United States was still at war with Indians. An Army officer, Richard Pratt, founded the first of these schools. He based it on an education program he had developed in an Indian prison. He described his philosophy in a speech he gave in 1892. "A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one," Pratt said. "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man."The federal government began sending American Indians to off-reservation boarding schools in the 1870s, when the United States was still at war with Indians. An Army officer, Richard Pratt, founded the first of these schools. He based it on an education program he had developed in an Indian prison. He described his philosophy in a speech he gave in 1892. "A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one," Pratt said. "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man."

4. Tom Torlino, Navajo, just prior to entering Carlisle Indian School� Boarding schools started in 1868 and ended in the mid 1970sBoarding schools started in 1868 and ended in the mid 1970s

5. �and shortly after. Yes, conformity, once again.Yes, conformity, once again.

6. In 1924, the Indian Citizen Act gave American Indians dual citizenship with their own nation and the USIn 1924, the Indian Citizen Act gave American Indians dual citizenship with their own nation and the US

7. Sioux boys as they were dressed on arrival at the Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania The government operated as many as 100 boarding schools for American Indians, both on and off reservations. Children were sometimes taken forcibly, by armed police. Lomawaima says that's not the only reason families let their children go. "For many communities, for a variety of reasons, federal school was the only option," she says. "Public schools were closed to Indians because of racism."The government operated as many as 100 boarding schools for American Indians, both on and off reservations. Children were sometimes taken forcibly, by armed police. Lomawaima says that's not the only reason families let their children go. "For many communities, for a variety of reasons, federal school was the only option," she says. "Public schools were closed to Indians because of racism."

9. �and in cadet uniforms, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania. n 1945, Bill Wright, a Pattwin Indian, was sent to the Stewart Indian School in Nevada. He was just 6 years old. Wright remembers matrons bathing him in kerosene and shaving his head. Students at federal boarding schools were forbidden to express their culture � everything from wearing long hair to speaking even a single Indian word. Wright said he lost not only his language, but also his American Indian name. "I remember coming home and my grandma asked me to talk Indian to her and I said, 'Grandma, I don't understand you,' " Wright says. "She said, 'Then who are you?' "n 1945, Bill Wright, a Pattwin Indian, was sent to the Stewart Indian School in Nevada. He was just 6 years old. Wright remembers matrons bathing him in kerosene and shaving his head. Students at federal boarding schools were forbidden to express their culture � everything from wearing long hair to speaking even a single Indian word. Wright said he lost not only his language, but also his American Indian name. "I remember coming home and my grandma asked me to talk Indian to her and I said, 'Grandma, I don't understand you,' " Wright says. "She said, 'Then who are you?' "

10. Boys and girls conducting physics experiments.

12. Jim Thorpe (1882-1953), Sauk and Fox from Oklahoma and future world-famous athlete (including playing for the Cleveland Indians) standing, in football uniform of Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania.

13. Albuquerque Indian School in 1885

14. Staff of the Albuquerque Indian School And for decades, there were reports that students in the boarding schools were abused. Children were beaten, malnourished and forced to do heavy labor. In the 1960s, a congressional report found that many teachers still saw their role as civilizing American Indian students, not educating them. The report said the schools still had a "major emphasis on discipline and punishment." And for decades, there were reports that students in the boarding schools were abused. Children were beaten, malnourished and forced to do heavy labor. In the 1960s, a congressional report found that many teachers still saw their role as civilizing American Indian students, not educating them. The report said the schools still had a "major emphasis on discipline and punishment."

15. Early class of young ladies at Albuquerque Indian School. Studies program at the University of Arizona, the intent was to completely transform people, inside and out. "Language, religion, family structure, economics, the way you make a living, the way you express emotion, everything," says Lomawaima. Lomawaima says from the start, the government's objective was to "erase and replace" Indian culture, part of a larger strategy to conquer Indians.Studies program at the University of Arizona, the intent was to completely transform people, inside and out. "Language, religion, family structure, economics, the way you make a living, the way you express emotion, everything," says Lomawaima. Lomawaima says from the start, the government's objective was to "erase and replace" Indian culture, part of a larger strategy to conquer Indians.

16. Early class of young boys at Albuquerque Indian School. "They very specifically targeted Native nations that were the most recently hostile," Lomawaima says. "There was a very conscious effort to recruit the children of leaders, and this was also explicit, essentially to hold those children hostage. The idea was it would be much easier to keep those communities pacified with their children held in a school somewhere far away." "They very specifically targeted Native nations that were the most recently hostile," Lomawaima says. "There was a very conscious effort to recruit the children of leaders, and this was also explicit, essentially to hold those children hostage. The idea was it would be much easier to keep those communities pacified with their children held in a school somewhere far away."

17. Young girls attending sewing class.

18. At boarding schools, the curriculum focused mostly on trades, such as carpentry for boys and housekeeping for girls. "It wasn't really about education," says Lucy Toledo, a Navajo who went to Sherman Institute in the 1950s. Toledo says students didn't learn basic concepts in math or English, such as parts of speech or grammar.At boarding schools, the curriculum focused mostly on trades, such as carpentry for boys and housekeeping for girls. "It wasn't really about education," says Lucy Toledo, a Navajo who went to Sherman Institute in the 1950s. Toledo says students didn't learn basic concepts in math or English, such as parts of speech or grammar.

19. "Saturday night we had a movie," says Toledo. "Do you know what the movie was about? Cowboys and Indians. Cowboys and Indians. Here we're getting all our people killed, and that's the kind of stuff they showed us." "Saturday night we had a movie," says Toledo. "Do you know what the movie was about? Cowboys and Indians. Cowboys and Indians. Here we're getting all our people killed, and that's the kind of stuff they showed us."

20. As you look at this painting, knowing what you know about the history of American Indians� place in the U.S. what do you think you would hear, feel, see, say and wonder about. Who do you imagine yourself to be? Now that you�ve learned about this conformist approach by some Americans, what do you think might be the next steps for As you look at this painting, knowing what you know about the history of American Indians� place in the U.S. what do you think you would hear, feel, see, say and wonder about. Who do you imagine yourself to be? Now that you�ve learned about this conformist approach by some Americans, what do you think might be the next steps for