Unspoken: America's Native American Boarding Schools [FULL DOCUMENTARY]

PBS Utah・2 minutes read

Native American boarding schools aimed to assimilate children by erasing their culture, traumatizing many through forced haircuts and punishments. Despite historical trauma, recent efforts at schools like Santa Fe Indian School focus on supporting Native identity and values, fostering deeper connections among Native American students.

Insights

  • Native American boarding schools enforced assimilation by eradicating cultural practices, including cutting children's long hair, which symbolized strength and dignity.
  • The traumatic experiences at boarding schools, marked by emotional and physical abuse, had long-lasting effects on Native individuals, leading to historic trauma and a legacy of intergenerational pain.

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Recent questions

  • How did Native American boarding schools impact children?

    Native American boarding schools aimed at assimilating Native children into Anglo culture by stripping away their Native identity, including cutting their long hair and prohibiting traditional practices. This caused emotional trauma, longing for home, and challenges in adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. The policy of assimilation had devastating effects, leading to historic trauma and cultural suppression. Many children faced harsh punishments, overcrowding, and funding issues, with positive experiences being rare. Overall, the boarding school era had a profound negative impact on Native children.

  • Who founded the Carlisle Indian Boarding School?

    The Carlisle Indian Boarding School was founded in 1879 by Richard Henry Pratt, who believed in the motto "kill the Indian, save the man." Pratt was the superintendent of Carlisle and played a key role in the assimilation process of Native American children. The school aimed to erase Native culture and language, focusing on assimilating students into Anglo-American society. Pratt's approach and beliefs had lasting impacts on Native communities and the boarding school system.

  • What were some consequences of Native children running away from boarding schools?

    When Native children ran away from boarding schools, they faced severe consequences, including harsh punishments and disciplinary actions. Running away was often a desperate attempt to escape the traumatic experiences and cultural suppression within the schools. However, these actions led to further trauma, as children were often caught and subjected to even more severe treatment. The act of running away highlighted the deep emotional distress and longing for home that many Native children experienced during their time at boarding schools.

  • How did boarding schools affect Native American languages?

    Boarding schools had a significant impact on Native American languages, as they imposed restrictions on teaching and speaking native languages. This cultural suppression aimed to erase indigenous languages and force assimilation into English-speaking society. By prohibiting the use of native languages, boarding schools contributed to the loss of linguistic diversity and heritage within Native communities. The suppression of languages further alienated Native children from their cultural roots and contributed to the overall trauma experienced in these institutions.

  • What role did the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975 play?

    The Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975 granted tribal communities more control over their affairs, including education. This act marked a significant shift towards empowering Native American tribes to govern their own educational systems and make decisions that aligned with their cultural values and beliefs. By granting more autonomy to tribal communities, the act aimed to address the historical injustices and trauma caused by assimilation policies in boarding schools. The act represented a step towards self-determination and cultural revitalization for Native peoples in the realm of education.

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Summary

00:00

Native American boarding schools: Assimilation and trauma.

  • Native American boarding schools aimed at assimilation, stripping away all aspects of Native culture.
  • Children in these schools faced challenges, longing for home and familiar surroundings.
  • Native children's long hair, symbolizing strength and dignity, was cut to conform to Anglo standards.
  • Early boarding schools prohibited Native practices that were previously integral to their way of life.
  • The boarding school era is considered by some as ethnic cleansing rather than assimilation.
  • The policy of assimilation had devastating effects on Native peoples, causing historic trauma.
  • The Carlisle Indian Boarding School, founded in 1879, was a key institution in the assimilation process.
  • Richard Henry Pratt, superintendent of Carlisle, believed in "killing the Indian" to save the man.
  • Haskell Indian Nations University, founded in 1884, focused on vocational training for Native students.
  • Boarding schools brought together Native children from diverse cultures, inadvertently strengthening their intertribal relationships.

20:03

Impact of Boarding Schools on Native Americans

  • Long hair symbolizes strength and wisdom in Native American culture.
  • Boarding school experiences were traumatic for many, involving forced haircuts and harsh punishments.
  • Punishments included kneeling for extended periods, physical discipline, and public humiliation.
  • Cultural suppression occurred, with restrictions on teaching native languages.
  • Emotional trauma from boarding schools affected individuals deeply.
  • Some students ran away from boarding schools, facing severe consequences.
  • Overcrowding and funding issues plagued boarding schools, leading to closures.
  • Positive experiences at boarding schools were rare but impactful for some.
  • Civil rights movements in the 1960s and 1970s brought attention to Native American issues.
  • The Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975 granted tribal communities more control over their affairs.

36:39

Empowering Native American Identity Through Education

  • Alicea Olascoaga is a student at the Santa Fe Indian School, affiliated with the Tlingit and Haida tribe in Alaska and the Mescalero Apache tribe.
  • Self-determination at the school involves learning to do for oneself, accepting responsibility, and taking ownership of successes and failures.
  • The Santa Fe Indian School has shifted from assimilating Native Americans into white culture to nurturing and supporting their identity.
  • Alicea attends physics class with Carlos Santistevan and considers the dorm her home away from home, catching the train to Albuquerque on weekends.
  • Attending the Santa Fe Indian School allows for deeper connections with Native American peers on a spiritual and personal level.
  • The school aims to incorporate Native American values and belief systems into its environment.
  • Darlene Smith teaches Navajo history to grade-schoolers, emphasizing the importance of embracing language, culture, and history.
  • Dacian Spotted Elk, a student at East High School, uses sports to cope with racism and offensive imagery encountered during games.
  • Dacian plays on the basketball team and has faced racist remarks, using sports as a way to respond and educate others about Native American history.
  • Native American Code Talkers like Samuel Holiday and Dan Akee used their language to communicate vital information during World War II, despite it being discouraged during boarding school days.

53:25

Injustice, Education, and Remembering: Voices United

  • Forrest Cuch expresses anger at being unjustly treated, emphasizing the importance of doing what is right.
  • The significance of maintaining a great country is highlighted, with a reference to Thomas Jefferson's belief in the role of education in democracy.
  • Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale reflects on the tragic history of children who died far from home, underscoring the importance of remembering their stories to inspire better treatment of future generations.
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