Indian Boarding Schools

Definition

Indian boarding schools were educational institutions established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at assimilating Native American children into Euro-American culture. These schools enforced strict policies that suppressed Native languages, traditions, and identities, reflecting a broader effort to erase Indigenous cultures in favor of Western values.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Indian boarding schools were often located far from children's home communities, isolating them from their families and cultures.
2. The motto 'Kill the Indian, save the man' was used to justify the harsh treatment and cultural suppression within these institutions.
3. Students at these schools faced physical punishment for speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions.
4. The impact of Indian boarding schools led to long-lasting trauma in Native communities, contributing to issues of identity and cultural disconnection.
5. Many Native Americans today are working to reclaim their heritage and languages as part of healing from the legacies of these schools.

Review Questions

• How did Indian boarding schools serve as a tool for the assimilation of Native American children?
  • Indian boarding schools were designed to assimilate Native American children by removing them from their families and cultures. The schools enforced strict rules against speaking native languages and practicing cultural traditions, with the intention of instilling Euro-American values. This process was rooted in the belief that Indigenous cultures were inferior and needed to be replaced with Western norms, thus contributing significantly to the erasure of Native identities.
• What were some of the methods employed at Indian boarding schools to suppress Native culture, and how did these methods reflect broader assimilation policies?
  • At Indian boarding schools, methods such as corporal punishment, forced labor, and mandatory English language instruction were commonly used to suppress Native culture. Students were often punished for using their native languages or practicing traditional customs. These practices reflected broader assimilation policies that aimed to eliminate Indigenous cultural identities in favor of conformity to Western societal norms, showcasing a systematic approach to cultural eradication.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of Indian boarding schools on Native American communities and their ongoing struggles with identity today.
  • The long-term effects of Indian boarding schools have profoundly impacted Native American communities, leading to intergenerational trauma and challenges related to cultural identity. Many survivors experienced loss of language, tradition, and familial connections, creating a disconnect that persists today. In contemporary society, Native Americans are actively working to reclaim their cultural heritage and restore their identities, indicating both resilience and a continuing struggle against the historical legacies imposed by such assimilationist practices.

Related terms

Assimilation Policy: A government strategy aimed at integrating Native Americans into Euro-American society by eradicating Indigenous cultural practices.

Cultural Genocide: The systematic destruction of a group's culture, which in the case of Native Americans, was pursued through institutions like boarding schools.

Dawes Act: An 1887 law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land, undermining communal land ownership and tribal sovereignty.