Boarding school era

Definition

The boarding school era refers to the period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Native American children were forcibly taken from their families and sent to government-sponsored boarding schools. These institutions aimed to assimilate Indigenous youth into Euro-American culture, stripping them of their languages, traditions, and identities in an effort to erase Native cultures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The boarding school era was marked by the establishment of numerous Indian boarding schools across the United States, beginning in the 1870s, with Carlisle Indian Industrial School being one of the first and most notable.
2. Many children were taken from their families under coercive policies, leading to deep trauma and disruption of family structures within Native communities.
3. Students at these schools were often punished for speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions, resulting in a significant loss of Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge.
4. The legacy of the boarding school era continues to affect Native American communities today, contributing to issues related to identity, cultural continuity, and intergenerational trauma.
5. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the histories of these schools, leading to calls for acknowledgment, reconciliation, and reparative justice for those affected.

Review Questions

• How did the boarding school era impact Native American identity and culture during its time?
  • The boarding school era significantly impacted Native American identity and culture by forcibly removing children from their families and communities. This disruption led to a generational loss of language, traditions, and cultural practices as students were indoctrinated into Euro-American values. The suppression of Indigenous identities not only altered personal experiences but also caused long-term ramifications for entire communities, affecting their cultural continuity.
• Analyze the methods used by boarding schools to promote assimilation among Native American children.
  • Boarding schools employed various methods to promote assimilation among Native American children, including strict rules against speaking native languages and practicing traditional customs. Students faced harsh punishments for non-compliance, reinforcing the message that their cultural identities were inferior. The curriculum was designed to educate them in Euro-American ways of life, which included vocational training that often prepared them for menial labor rather than empowering them within their own communities.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the boarding school era on contemporary Native American communities and cultural revival efforts.
  • The long-term effects of the boarding school era on contemporary Native American communities are profound, contributing to challenges such as identity crises, loss of language, and ongoing intergenerational trauma. However, in response to these historical injustices, there has been a growing cultural revival movement focused on reclaiming lost languages and traditions. This revitalization is seen as essential not only for healing but also for strengthening community ties and fostering pride in Indigenous heritage. The reclamation movement aims to address the historical wrongs by promoting cultural education and inter-community collaboration.

Related terms

cultural assimilation: The process by which a minority group adopts the customs, values, and behaviors of a dominant culture, often leading to the loss of the minority group's original cultural identity.

Indian boarding schools: Educational institutions established in the United States, often run by Christian missionaries or the federal government, that aimed to educate Native American children in a Euro-American style while forbidding their native languages and cultural practices.

reclamation movement: A contemporary movement among Indigenous peoples aimed at reclaiming lost languages, traditions, and identities that were suppressed during the boarding school era and other assimilation policies.