American Indian Boarding Schools: A Small US Town Digs for the Truth | Foreign Correspondent

Summary

The script recounts the haunting history of Native American boarding schools in the United States, where Indigenous children were forcibly assimilated, often under brutal conditions. It delves into the aftermath, including the search for unmarked graves of children who died at these institutions, and the broader implications of this dark chapter on Indigenous communities. The narrative underscores the ongoing quest for justice, healing, and the preservation of Native American culture and identity.

Takeaways

• 🔍 A search is underway in the United States Midwest to locate the graves of Native American children taken from their tribes and sent to boarding schools.
• 📚 These institutions were not schools but prison camps aimed at assimilating Indigenous children by stripping away their culture.
• 📉 The recent discovery of more than 1,000 graves at former boarding schools in Canada has brought attention to similar abuses in the United States.
• ⚖️ Native American tribes in the US are demanding justice for the forced removal of their children, as a federal government report estimates tens of thousands of Indigenous children could have died at these institutions.
• 🗣️ Efforts are being made to reclaim Indigenous languages and cultures, which were severely damaged by the boarding school era.
• 📅 From 1819 to 1969, hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their tribes and placed in state- and church-run boarding schools across the US.
• 🔒 The boarding school model was devised by Richard Henry Pratt with the motto 'Kill the Indian, save the man,' aiming to destroy Indigenous cultures and identities.
• 🕵️ Survivors and their descendants share painful memories and stories of abuse and cultural eradication from their time in these schools.
• 🗺️ Investigations and searches for the graves of children who died at these schools are ongoing, with ground-penetrating radar and historical records being used to locate burial sites.
• 💔 There are calls for a national reckoning and a commission of inquiry to address the trauma caused by these boarding schools, seeking accountability, justice, and healing.

Q & A

What is the current search effort in the United States Midwest aimed at finding?

The search effort is aimed at locating the graves of Native American children who were taken from their tribes and sent to boarding schools.

How were the boarding schools described by the woman in the transcript?

The woman described the boarding schools as not being schools but rather prison camps.

What recent discovery in Canada has brought attention to the boarding schools for Indigenous children?

The discovery of more than 1,000 graves at former boarding schools in Canada exposed the state-sanctioned abuse of Indigenous children.

What is the connection between the boarding schools in the United States and those in Canada?

The blueprint for the boarding schools in Canada came from the United States, where similar institutions were established.

What is the current demand from Native American tribes in the United States regarding the boarding schools?

Native American tribes in the US are demanding justice for the forced removal of their children from these institutions.

What does the federal government report estimate about the number of Indigenous children who could have died at US institutions?

The report estimates that tens of thousands of Indigenous children could have died at US institutions.

What is the significance of the Dakota language to the Native American people mentioned in the transcript?

The Dakota language is described as the heart and soul of their people, holding their identity, practices, beliefs, philosophies, and worldviews.

What policy is Redwing Thomas blaming for the destruction of his people's culture?

Redwing Thomas blames the US Government's boarding school policy for destroying his people's culture.

What was the purpose of the boarding schools according to Richard Henry Pratt, the military officer who devised the model?

Pratt believed that by stripping away culture, he could 'kill the Indian and save the man,' aiming to assimilate Indigenous children into the dominant society.

What was the impact of the boarding schools on the Native American children's cultural identity?

The boarding schools aimed to destroy the belief system, family system, and change the identity of Native American children, severing them from their language and culture.

What is the current effort to uncover the truth about the boarding schools and their impact on Indigenous children?

A historic federal investigation into America's boarding school era is underway, with efforts to uncover the truth about the loss of human life and the lasting consequences of these schools.

What was the role of the Genoa US Indian Industrial School in the boarding school system?

The Genoa US Indian Industrial School was one of the largest and longest-running institutions where Indigenous children were sent, and it is now a place where people come to learn about the history of what happened there.

What is the significance of the search for the Genoa Indian School's lost cemetery?

The search for the lost cemetery is significant as it represents an effort to honor and bring closure to the children who died at the school and were buried there, as well as to acknowledge the dark history of the boarding schools.

What does the Omaha tribe intend to do if the cemetery is found?

If the cemetery is found, the Omaha tribe plans to repatriate their children and lay them to rest on their ancestral lands, providing closure for the spirits of the children and their community.

What is the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition calling for in response to the boarding school era?

The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is calling for a commission of inquiry as the first step towards reconciliation, focusing on accountability and justice to facilitate substantive healing.

What role does Redwing see for the preservation and teaching of the Dakota language in the healing process from the boarding school era?

Redwing sees the preservation and teaching of the Dakota language as key to healing from the painful past, creating a joyful and enthusiastic classroom environment that contrasts with the experiences of the ancestors who were forbidden such expressions.