Posted on Jun 6, 2023
Federal Indian boarding schools still exist, but what's inside may be surprising
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https://www.npr.org/2023/06/06/ [login to see] /federal-indian-boarding-schools-still-exist
On a hot afternoon last summer, Riverside Indian School drew a crowd from all over Oklahoma. Elders and family members drove hours to pile into the residential school's gymnasium. They filled the space with rows of chairs and stuffed the bleachers up to the rafters, but when the meeting was called to order, everyone was silent.
Facing the busloads of tribal citizens were U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland. They traveled from Washington to listen for as long as people wanted to speak. The subject at hand? The very place they were sitting.
The gym now shines with new equipment and has a wall dedicated to the "Tribes of Riverside." A symbol of the new Riverside, one with a majority Native staff and an emphasis on cultural practices. But for many of the people here, Riverside Indian School was once a waking nightmare.
One of the first to speak was an 85-year-old man with short salt-and-pepper hair who used a walker to steady himself. Donald Neconie attended this school more than 60 years ago.
On a hot afternoon last summer, Riverside Indian School drew a crowd from all over Oklahoma. Elders and family members drove hours to pile into the residential school's gymnasium. They filled the space with rows of chairs and stuffed the bleachers up to the rafters, but when the meeting was called to order, everyone was silent.
Facing the busloads of tribal citizens were U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland. They traveled from Washington to listen for as long as people wanted to speak. The subject at hand? The very place they were sitting.
The gym now shines with new equipment and has a wall dedicated to the "Tribes of Riverside." A symbol of the new Riverside, one with a majority Native staff and an emphasis on cultural practices. But for many of the people here, Riverside Indian School was once a waking nightmare.
One of the first to speak was an 85-year-old man with short salt-and-pepper hair who used a walker to steady himself. Donald Neconie attended this school more than 60 years ago.
Federal Indian boarding schools still exist, but what's inside may be surprising
Posted from npr.org
Native Americans
Department of the Interior
Culture
American History
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel This was a tremendous shock to their cultures. One of the first things the schools did was make them cut their hair. It is believed that hair is sacred and many Native Americans never cut theirs. Secondly, the conditions were atrocious and the children were cut off from everything they knew. Third they tried to force a new religion on them when they already had their own beliefs in Creator. Bodies have been found under some of those schools.
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Riverside is located where my dad grew up and where he is now buried. Many Indian schools have continued to operate, such as the Haskell Indian School in Kansas, where my grandfather was sent--it's now a college, run to provide upper level education to Indians.
As of a couple of years ago, there were about 70+ Indian Schools still operating, with about 15 still boarding students.
As of a couple of years ago, there were about 70+ Indian Schools still operating, with about 15 still boarding students.
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