Introduction
Native Americans endured much trauma throughout the history of U.S. colonization. They experienced wars, stolen land, decimation of their food resources (the buffalo), and one of the greatest efforts at assimilation – boarding schools. This period remains largely unrecognized in American history. The U.S. government created boarding schools in an attempt to assimilate Native Americans into a “civilized” society in the name of education and reform. Native American children were forcibly removed from their families to attend these government-operated boarding schools. The goal was to strip away their “Indianness” and have Indigenous culture disappear altogether.
History of Boarding Schools
Off-reservation boarding schools were first established in the late 1800s. During this time, American Indian children were forced from their homes and often transported far away with no contact with their families. They had no choice but to accept the American way of life and Christianity. They were no longer allowed to speak their language, only English. Upon arrival, they were forced to cut their hair and change into western clothing. The boys were dressed in military uniforms and the girls in Victorian dresses. They received an “American” name and a number. Records were kept of their height, weight, and lung capacity. The school screened for tuberculosis so as not to ruin its reputation by accepting sick children. These children were photographed so the school could promote successful “civilized” Indians. They were photographed in classrooms, vocational training, and military drills. Superintendents wanted to document this process so that legislators and potential sponsors could see the success of their off-reservation Indian school programs.
