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The painful history of Indian boarding schools
Apr 30, 2025
Mary Annette Pember, a national correspondent for ICT News and author of "Medicine River," explores the painful legacy of Indian boarding schools. She discusses how these institutions aimed for forced assimilation, creating generational trauma among Native communities. Pember shares personal stories of hunger and abuse faced by children, highlighting the struggle for identity and cultural reclamation today. The conversation also contrasts U.S. efforts with Canada’s responses to historical injustices, examining the ongoing impacts of the past.
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Quick takeaways
- The establishment of federal Indian boarding schools aimed to assimilate Native Americans, resulting in generational trauma, identity loss, and cultural erasure.
- Survivors of these institutions employed various coping mechanisms, showcasing resilience and resistance against oppression while preserving their cultural heritage.
Deep dives
The Impact of Indian Boarding Schools
Federal Indian boarding schools were established in the 19th century under the guise of education but resulted in significant trauma for Native American children. By the 1920s, around 76% of American Indian children were forced to attend these institutions, often starting at a very young age. The experiences within these schools were characterized by brutality rather than benevolence, with children frequently subjected to emotional and physical abuse. This systemic practice aimed to assimilate Native peoples into white culture while erasing their own identities and heritage.
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