A proposed bill would eliminate the statute of limitations so survivors from the Indian Boarding School era in South Dakota can file a suit. Abuse was common in Native American boarding schools and survivors have often carried the trauma into adulthood which has caused issues such as substance abuse and suicide. Read Article Here Read […]
Letters filed in a case against the Catholic Church detail allegations of sexual abuse of students who attended St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Sioux reservation. The plaintiffs says the letters prove the church knew about the abuse, but did nothing to stop it. Read Article or Listen Here Read PDF Here Source: Charles Michael […]
For Tala Tootoosis, a ribbon skirt is a powerful symbol of survival. Her grandmother attended a boarding school where she was forbidden to speak her language and the school tried to cut her hair. Despite her experiences, her grandmother encouraged her to wear ribbon skirts. Her culture has also helped Tootoosis battle her own issues. […]
Stewart Indian School has received funding to renovate several buildings. When the school first opened in 1890, students lived in a military-style environment and punishments were severe. After the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), the school eased up on assimilation policies and traditional cultural activities became part of the school curriculum. The renovation plans for the […]
Accurate Native American history and narratives are often missing in the curriculum taught in schools across the United States. This article provides links to several resources about Native American issues including the Indian Boarding School era, along with forms of resistance, such as investing in cultural and language revitalization programs. Read Article Here Read PDF […]
Chemawa Indian School, a historic boarding school in Oregon, has come under intense scrutiny from both the Congress, and parents who have children attending the school. Budget cuts, school safety, academic quality, and the ability of teachers to help students who have experienced trauma are issues of concern. The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is […]
Every year the Genoa U.S. School Reunion/Celebration is held in Nebraska. Even though most of the students who attended the school have passed away, their descendants gather to remember their family history, tour the school, and learn about boarding schools in the U.S. It is also a celebration of the culture of those who attended […]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement that the federal government will go ahead with plans to create a holiday dedicated to reconciliation with Indigenous groups in Canada . The holiday will focus on remembering the residential school era and continue the reconciliation process. The creation of a holiday is one of 94 recommendations by […]
Sexual abuse was common in residential schools across Canada. As a result from the trauma experienced in residential schools, much of the trauma has spilled over into Indigenous communities. Proposed solutions for dealing with this issue include restorative justice practices. Justice Murray Sinclair, the former chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) spent 6 […]
This event was held to remember the children and the families whose lives were impacted by Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. There was an early morning ceremony at the cemetery. Events included a pipe ceremony, guest speakers, remembering the deceased, and Jingle Dress Dancers with a healing dance, and a silent auction. Read Article […]
Boarding schools were seen as a way to assimilate Native American students into the dominant culture and teach them western values. Usually, little emphasis was placed on education, and students often were abused and lived in unsanitary conditions. In contrast, some students who attended boarding schools had positive experiences. In the present day, schools like […]
This is the story of Fred John, who attended residential school in Alaska. During his time at school he became ashamed of his identity and did his best to assimilate into the dominant culture. His children’s curiosity about their heritage prompted his own healing journey and he shared his boarding school experience with his children. […]
