Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Definition

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first off-reservation boarding school for Native American students, established in 1879 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Its mission was to assimilate Native American youth into Euro-American culture by teaching them trades and Western education, often at the cost of their indigenous identities and languages. This institution symbolizes the broader movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to erase Native American cultures in favor of assimilation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Founded by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, the school operated under the motto 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man,' which highlighted its goal to eradicate Native identity.
2. Students at Carlisle were forced to abandon their native languages and traditional customs, leading to significant cultural loss.
3. The curriculum focused on vocational training and practical skills, including agriculture, sewing, and carpentry, aiming to prepare students for a life in mainstream American society.
4. Many students faced harsh conditions, including discipline through military-style regulations, and some even died from diseases contracted at the school.
5. The school operated until 1918, influencing a network of similar boarding schools across the United States that continued to impact Native American communities.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School reflect broader societal attitudes toward Native Americans during its time?
  • The establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School illustrated the dominant societal belief that Native Americans needed to be assimilated into Euro-American culture. This belief was rooted in the idea that indigenous cultures were inferior and needed to be eradicated. The school's approach aimed to 'civilize' Native youth by stripping them of their cultural identities, demonstrating a widespread disregard for indigenous practices and languages during this period.
• Discuss the impact of boarding schools like Carlisle on Native American identities and cultures.
  • Boarding schools such as Carlisle had a devastating impact on Native American identities and cultures. Students were systematically taught to reject their heritage, leading to generational trauma as traditional practices and languages were suppressed. The long-term effects included a loss of cultural continuity and community ties, contributing to ongoing challenges in preserving Native identities and philosophies in contemporary society.
• Evaluate the legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in relation to modern efforts toward cultural preservation among Native Americans.
  • The legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School is complex and has significant implications for modern efforts toward cultural preservation among Native Americans. While the school aimed to assimilate students into mainstream society, it inadvertently fostered a stronger sense of resilience within many indigenous communities. Today, there is a renewed focus on revitalizing native languages and traditions as a direct response to the historical trauma inflicted by institutions like Carlisle. This ongoing effort seeks not only to reclaim lost aspects of culture but also to heal from past injustices associated with cultural genocide.

Related terms

Assimilation: The process of adopting the cultural norms of a dominant group, often leading to the loss of one's original culture.

Boarding Schools: Educational institutions where students live on-site, often used historically to remove Native American children from their families and communities.

Cultural Genocide:

The systematic destruction of a group's culture, which includes the suppression of language, traditions, and identity.