Schools tried to forcibly assimilate Indigenous kids. Can the U.S. make amends?

Summary

The discovery of a mass grave with 215 children's remains near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada has brought to light the dark history of forced assimilation of indigenous people. In the U.S., a similar history is being acknowledged through the uncovering of photographs from a boarding school for Native American children in Minnesota. The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, who operated such schools, are now part of a reconciliation effort, including a digital repatriation of these photographs to the descendants of the students, aiming to provide closure and aid in the healing process.

Takeaways

• 😢 The remains of 215 children were found in a mass grave near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada, highlighting a dark chapter in history.
• 🏫 Indian boarding schools were established to forcibly assimilate indigenous children into mainstream society, operating from the 1870s to the 1970s.
• 🚫 At these schools, Native languages, religions, and customs were forbidden as part of the assimilation process.
• 📚 Students at the College of Saint Benedict discovered previously unseen photographs in the monastery's archives, shedding light on the boarding school era.
• 🤔 The boarding schools' impact is still felt today, disrupting families and making it difficult for descendants to build healthy relationships.
• 👵 Community elders and descendants seek closure and the recovery of cultural artifacts as part of the healing process.
• 📜 The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict acknowledge past wrongs and have issued an apology to the White Earth community.
• 🔍 A digital repatriation effort is underway to make historical photographs accessible to descendants of Native boarding school students.
• 🌐 This local effort is part of a broader national movement to address historical injustices against Native American communities.
• 📈 The story suggests a potential model for reconciliation and repatriation efforts between institutions and tribal nations.

Q & A

What was the shocking discovery near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School?

A mass grave with the remains of 215 children was found near the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

What is the significance of the discovery at Kamloops in relation to indigenous history?

The discovery is part of a dark history of forcibly assimilating indigenous people through Indian boarding schools, which aimed to strip away their indigenous cultures.

What was the purpose of the federal initiative announced by Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland?

The initiative aims to uncover the truth and lasting consequences of the boarding schools that were used to forcibly assimilate indigenous children.

What did students at the College of Saint Benedict discover in the archives?

Students discovered an archive of photographs related to Native American boarding schools, including images that had never been seen before.

How did the boarding schools operated by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict impact Native American students?

The boarding schools aimed to separate Native American children from their homes and strip away their indigenous cultures, including forbidding their languages, religions, and customs.

What was the role of the boarding schools in the broader assimilation policies of the time?

The boarding schools were part of a deliberate act to assimilate Native American children into mainstream society, often against the will of their families.

How did the boarding school system affect the families and communities of Native American students?

The boarding school system disrupted families and communities for multiple generations, making it difficult for individuals to make healthy choices and build healthy relationships.

What is the concept of 'digital repatriation' mentioned in the script?

Digital repatriation refers to the process of making historical materials, such as photographs, accessible to descendants of Native boarding school students, as a form of cultural restitution.

What is the significance of the apology from the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict?

The apology signifies a recognition of past wrongs and an attempt at reconciliation, acknowledging the injustices done to Native American communities in the past.

What is the goal of Jaime Arsenault and the White Earth community in relation to the boarding school history?

The goal is to use the history as a starting point for healing and to create a model for other repatriation efforts between institutions and tribal nations.

How does the script suggest that the past boarding school history can contribute to moving forward as a country?

By acknowledging and examining the past events, the script suggests that it can serve as an impetus for moving forward and promoting reconciliation and healing.