Lecture on Native American Boarding Schools and Lost Graves

Introduction

• Topic: Search for graves of Native American children from boarding schools in the Midwest, U.S.
• Context: Recent discoveries in Canada have resurfaced stories and demands for justice in the U.S.
• Objective: Native tribes are seeking to uncover the truth about the U.S. boarding school era.

Historical Context

• Purpose of Boarding Schools: Assimilation of Native children, stripping away their culture.
• Architect: Richard Henry Pratt, with a motto of “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.”
• Period: 1819-1969, encompassing hundreds of thousands of children.

Impact on Culture

• Language Loss: Eradication of Native languages; effort to reclaim is ongoing.
• Cultural Beliefs: Boarding schools aimed to destroy Native belief and family systems.
• Physical and Psychological Abuse: Use of corporal punishment to enforce English-speaking and suppress Native languages.

Testimonies and Personal Stories

• Red Wing Thomas: Discusses the impact on language and identity.
• Personal Accounts: Survivors and their descendants share stories of abuse and cultural devastation.
• Albert Red Wing: Mentioned the inhuman punishments at boarding schools.
• Judy Gashkebash: Highlights her mother's haunting memories from Genoa school.

Institutions Involved

• Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School, Nebraska: One of the largest and long-running schools.
• State and Church-Run Schools: Role in the assimilation policy.
• Current Efforts: Schools like the Genoa Foundation preserving history.

Modern-Day Investigations

• Federal Government Report: Estimates tens of thousands of indigenous children died at these institutions.
• State Undertakings: Personal searches by families, aided by historians.
• Historic Federal Investigation: Task of uncovering these hidden stories.

Findings and Ongoing Efforts

• Archaeological Searches: Use of ground-penetrating radar to locate graves.
• Challenges: Large search areas, lack of detailed records.
• Recent Discoveries: Initial findings of anomalies but no confirmed gravesites yet.
• Volunteer Involvement: Community members aiding in the identification and search for the missing children.

Cultural Repercussions and Healing

• Survivors' Perspectives: Many survivors did not openly discuss their experiences, leaving unsettling gaps in history.
• Generational Impact: Ongoing trauma among descendants.
• Revival Programs: Language and cultural practices being reintegrated into Native communities.
• Calls for Accountability: Demand for a commission of inquiry and steps towards reconciliation.

Quotes and Personal Anecdotes

• Red Wing Thomas: “These were not schools; it was a prison camp.”
• Judy Gashkebash: Reflects on her mother’s silence and the impact on her identity.
• Historian Dr. Margaret Jacobs: Touches on the disheartening findings of child deaths due to severe conditions.

Conclusion

• Ongoing Search: Despite unsuccessful initial attempts, the search continues.
• Significance: Recognition of this dark history is crucial for the healing and justice of Native communities.