Name: Indian Boarding Schools: A Dark Chapter in History
Uploaded: 2021-11-26T14:18:52.000Z
Duration: 8 min 22 s
Description: It is estimated that up to a half-million children were removed from their families and place in boarding schools, but the true number may never be known. Many Native Americans still live with the trauma associated with Indian boarding schools.

Indian Boarding Schools: A Dark Chapter in History

Indian Boarding Schools: A Dark Chapter in U.S. History

Overview of Indian Boarding School Period

Native American history is deeply intertwined with U.S. history, particularly during the Indian boarding school period that began in the late 1800s. This era involved the forced removal of Native American children from their homes and communities to assimilate them into American culture.

The relocation often spanned hundreds or thousands of miles, with the U.S. government implementing this policy as a means to "Americanize" Native children by erasing their cultural identities. The mantra was "kill the Indian, save the man."

Impact and Findings of the Merriam Report

An estimated half a million Native American children were taken from their families and placed in these schools, although exact numbers remain unknown. In 1928, the Merriam Report highlighted substandard living conditions across 26 states, revealing issues like overcrowding and poor nutrition.

Despite the report's findings indicating dire conditions, many boarding schools continued to operate for decades with minimal improvements; some still exist today, perpetuating trauma across generations of Native Americans.

Long-term Trauma and Recent Developments

The legacy of these boarding schools has led to significant social issues within Native communities, including high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, and suicide linked to unresolved trauma from these experiences. Many schools have graveyards containing remains of children who died while attending them.

In summer 2021, nine children's remains were returned to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe from Carlisle Indian Boarding School; this event coincided with global awareness following discoveries at Kamloops Industrial Residential School in Canada where 215 children's graves were found.

Federal Initiatives for Healing

Following these discoveries, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland initiated a federal investigation into past boarding schools aimed at uncovering burial sites and identifying those affected by this dark chapter in history. This initiative seeks to address unspoken traumas despite its challenges.

Tribal communities across the United States have begun healing processes through talking circles and rallies; however, healing is recognized as a long journey rather than a one-time event requiring ongoing efforts for resolution and understanding among affected populations.