Unseen Tears: The Native American Boarding School Experience in Western New York Part 1

alchemicalmedia

3 Nov 201309:52

Summary

TLDRThe transcript reflects personal accounts of Indigenous experiences in residential schools, where children were taken from their families, stripped of their culture, and subjected to harsh conditions. The discussion reveals how policies of the past sought to 'civilize' Native populations by eradicating their languages, customs, and identities. It covers the emotional and physical trauma endured, including isolation, abuse, and cultural erasure, as well as the lasting psychological effects on survivors. The narrative touches on the systemic oppression that Indigenous people faced and highlights the importance of remembering these dark chapters of history.

Takeaways

😔 The song 'One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians' reflects a dark history of violence and dehumanization against Indigenous people.
😕 Children were dressed in uniforms at government-run schools, separating them from their cultural roots.
🤔 Indigenous children were told not to trust or listen to white people but were not given clear explanations why.
🏫 Government schools and hospitals were introduced as part of the colonization process, aiming to 'civilize' Indigenous people.
❓ There is little public knowledge or discussion about the origins and impact of residential schools, with audiences unaware of their historical context.
🔫 The initial policy toward Indigenous people was extermination, but this later shifted to cultural genocide — 'killing the Indian, saving the man.'
👨‍⚕️ General Pratt's infamous quote 'kill the Indian, save the man' represents the mindset of dehumanizing Indigenous cultures.
🛏️ Survivors of these schools recount emotional and physical trauma, including being separated from family and subjected to harsh punishments.
✂️ Children had their hair cut off upon arrival, symbolizing the stripping away of their cultural identity.
🥺 Many survivors reflect on the deep psychological impact these experiences had on their sense of self, trust, and identity.

Q & A

What is the song 'One Little Two Little Three Little Indians' about?
-The song is about counting dead Indians, reflecting a dark period in history when Indigenous people were subjected to violence and extermination.
What was the initial policy towards Indigenous people as mentioned in the script?
-The initial policy was 'the only good Indian is a dead one,' advocating for the extermination of Indigenous people.
How did the policy towards Indigenous people change over time?
-The policy shifted from outright killing to 'killing the Indian and saving the man,' which meant assimilating Indigenous people into white society by forcibly removing their cultural identities.
Who was General Pratt and what was his contribution to the policy?
-General Pratt was known for the phrase 'to kill the Indian and save the man,' advocating for the cultural assimilation of Indigenous people through education.
What were residential schools and why were they established?
-Residential schools were institutions established to assimilate Indigenous children into Western culture. They were part of a policy to 'civilize' Indigenous people by severing their ties to their culture and traditions.
What was the experience of the speaker at the Mush Hole boarding school?
-The speaker experienced a harsh and traumatic upbringing at the Mush Hole boarding school, where they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse, cultural erasure, and were separated from their family.
Why were the children referred to as 'Mush Hole Baldies'?
-The children were called 'Mush Hole Baldies' because they had their hair cut off upon arrival at the Mush Hole boarding school, leaving them bald.
What was the impact of the boarding school experience on the speaker's perception of their upbringing?
-The speaker initially thought their upbringing was normal, but after leaving the boarding school, they realized the mistreatment and abuse they had endured.
How were the children punished for speaking their native language at the boarding school?
-Children were punished by having their mouths washed out with soap for speaking their native language, as part of the effort to suppress their cultural identity.
What was the purpose of the dark press room mentioned in the script?
-The dark press room was used as a form of solitary confinement and psychological punishment, where children were locked in the dark, often told that rats would get them, as a means to control and intimidate them.
What was the significance of the numbers given to the children at the boarding school?
-The numbers given to the children were used to dehumanize them, replacing their names with identifiers. This was part of the process to strip them of their individuality and cultural identity.

Outlines

00:00

🪶 The Dark History of Residential Schools and Cultural Eradication

The speaker recounts the history of the horrific treatment of Indigenous people, reflecting on songs that trivialized the killings of Native Americans. They recall growing up on a reservation, being told not to trust white people but never being told why. Government initiatives such as residential schools and hospitals were aimed at 'civilizing' Indigenous children. The speaker highlights that these schools, which many don't know about, were part of a policy aimed at eradicating Indigenous culture. Initially, the goal was to kill Indigenous people, but it shifted to 'killing the Indian and saving the man,' a policy propagated by General Pratt. These assimilation policies lasted until the 1980s in Canada and the U.S.

05:03

💔 Personal Experiences of Trauma at the 'Mush Hole'

The speaker shares their personal memories of attending a residential school, known as the 'Mush Hole,' at the age of four. They describe the hardship and loneliness of being separated from family, the unsanitary conditions, and the emotional pain they endured. The school experience caused feelings of anger and resentment that only surfaced after they left. The speaker reflects on how their parents couldn’t take care of them due to struggles with alcoholism, and they vividly recall having their hair cut off, a dehumanizing practice that furthered their sense of alienation. Being called 'Mush Hole Baldies' added to their suffering, as they were mocked both at the school and on the reserve.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Residential Schools

Residential schools were institutions set up by the government, often run by religious organizations, to assimilate Indigenous children into Western culture. In the script, the speaker talks about being taken to one such school at a young age, where Indigenous children were stripped of their culture, language, and identity. These schools played a central role in the colonization process, aiming to 'kill the Indian and save the man,' as noted in the video.

💡Assimilation

Assimilation refers to the process of forcing Indigenous people to abandon their native cultures and adopt the dominant culture's values, language, and customs. The script mentions how Indigenous children in residential schools were made to conform to Western standards, such as cutting their hair and being forbidden to speak their own language. This concept is tied to the broader goal of erasing Indigenous identity.

💡Kill the Indian, Save the Man

This phrase, attributed to General Pratt, encapsulates the brutal policy of cultural genocide practiced in residential schools. It signifies the intention to eradicate Indigenous culture ('kill the Indian') while trying to integrate individuals into Western society ('save the man'). The video highlights this as the shift in policy once mass genocide became impractical, reflecting deep racism and dehumanization.

💡Cultural Genocide

Cultural genocide refers to the systematic destruction of a group's cultural identity. The residential school system aimed to erase Indigenous cultures by forcibly assimilating children. The script emphasizes the cruelty of this approach, including the banning of Indigenous languages, the cutting of hair, and other practices intended to strip away Indigenous identity.

💡Mush Hole

The 'Mush Hole' refers to a nickname given to one of the residential schools where Indigenous children were sent. It highlights the poor conditions, where children were fed inadequate meals like mush and milk, symbolizing the neglect and maltreatment they endured. The speaker recalls being called 'Mush Hole Baldies' by other children due to their shaved heads, reflecting the humiliation and suffering experienced in these institutions.

💡Language Suppression

Language suppression was a key tactic used in residential schools to eradicate Indigenous culture. Children were punished for speaking their native languages, with the script describing how students were forced to wash their mouths with soap or locked in dark rooms if they disobeyed. This attempt to force English upon them is emblematic of broader colonial efforts to control and dominate Indigenous peoples.

💡Racism

Racism underpinned many of the policies directed at Indigenous people, including the creation of residential schools. The belief that Indigenous ways were 'savage' and inferior is central to the narrative in the video. The speaker talks about being labeled as 'subhuman' and 'savages' that needed to be civilized, which reflects the deeply embedded racism that justified the cultural erasure of Indigenous communities.

💡Child Separation

Child separation was a common practice in the residential school system, where children were forcibly removed from their families and communities. In the video, the speaker recalls being taken away at a young age, separated from siblings and deprived of parental care. This separation caused long-term emotional trauma and was part of a larger strategy to weaken Indigenous family and social structures.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism refers to the control and exploitation of one people by another, often involving the imposition of the dominant group’s culture and values. The script reflects the colonial policies in North America, where both Canada and the United States aimed to 'civilize' Indigenous populations by forcefully assimilating them into Western ways. This colonial agenda is highlighted through the government's involvement in residential schools and the suppression of Indigenous identities.

💡Trauma

Trauma is a recurring theme in the video, as survivors of residential schools recount the emotional, physical, and psychological pain they experienced. The speaker describes feelings of confusion, sadness, and abandonment, which are indicative of the deep wounds inflicted by this system. The long-term impact of this trauma on survivors and their communities is an important part of understanding the legacy of residential schools.

Highlights

The song 'One little, two little, three little Indians' reflects the historical violence towards Native Americans, as it refers to counting dead Indians from a time when they were systematically killed.

Children dressed in uniforms were a common sight, while children from the reservations were not, illustrating the divide and alienation created by the forced schooling system.

Growing up on the reservation, children were told not to trust white people but were never given reasons why, showing how deep mistrust was ingrained without explanation.

Residential schools were built by the government to 'civilize' Indigenous children, reflecting a policy of cultural erasure.

The statement, 'the only good Indian is a dead one' illustrates the genocidal mindset that once shaped government policy toward Indigenous peoples.

The shift in policy from 'killing the Indian' to 'killing the Indian and saving the man' reflects a change from physical genocide to cultural genocide through forced assimilation.

General Pratt is infamous for coining the phrase 'kill the Indian and save the man,' which exemplifies the mindset of forced assimilation programs.

The governments of Canada and the United States followed these assimilation policies through residential schools until the 1980s.

A former student describes being sent to the 'Mush Hole' residential school at the age of four and spending nine years there, marking an extended period of separation from family.

Children at residential schools were subjected to poor living conditions, such as having their heads shaved and being infested with bugs, contributing to their dehumanization.

Students were called degrading names like 'Mush Hole Baldies,' further adding to the trauma and alienation they experienced.

Inhumane punishments were inflicted on children for speaking their Indigenous languages, including washing their mouths with soap and being locked in dark rooms.

The speaker notes that some children, like themselves, resisted speaking English for years, as an act of defiance against forced assimilation.

Children at the residential school were given numbers instead of names, further stripping them of their identity and humanity.

The name of the Indian School was derived from 'asylum,' indicating that Indigenous children were seen as needing to be confined or 'corrected,' akin to mentally ill patients.