General Historical Background:
Boarding Schools and the School to Prison Pipeline, created by previous University of Minnesota students for the States of Incarceration site thoroughly discusses the history and policies behind the implementation and creation of boarding schools. Our project, will work off their theirs, but will focus on the cultural and social implications of these institutions. Our project will also focus on the connection and correlation between the experiences and outcomes of those subjected to boarding schools and prisons.
Key Terms:
The following terms are complex but important in understanding the impact of assimilationist institutions on Native American populations and their facilitation in the cultural loss and continued trauma of Native peoples.
Assimilation: to conform or adapt to the customs, attitudes, and ways of life of a dominant group or nation
Genocide: the deliberate killing of a group of people, especially those of a specific cultural, ethnic or racial group
The United Nations defines genocide as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group: (a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group |
Settler Colonialism: is a very complex but important term in understanding the continuation of colonization of Native peoples and communities. However, the term is often contested with the word ‘genocide,’ as some scholars like Patrick Wolfe, claim genocide is a singular event and is thus not fully applicable to the ongoing, and past, treatment of Indigenous peoples and cultures.
Settler Colonialism: an imposed structure of life and culture created and implemented by dominant society; an ongoing process that manifests over generations; violent appropriation of land and culture
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Types of Boarding Schools:
Native American children were subjected to a variety of educational institutions. For this project, the term boarding school and ‘school’ will refer only to off-reservation boarding schools. However, we acknowledge the differences between each type of school, and and how these differences affect the experiences of each student.
Native American children were subjected to a variety of educational institutions. For this project, the term boarding school and ‘school’ will refer only to off-reservation boarding schools. However, we acknowledge the differences between each type of school, and and how these differences affect the experiences of each student.
On-Reservation Boarding Schools: schools in Native communities, students live at school facilities
Day Schools: class during the day; on or near Native communities Missionary Schools: ran by religious organizations who were paid by government Off-Reservation Boarding Schools: not near Native communities; students live at school facilities, remain for extended period of time [1] |
Types of Prisons and Jails:
Likewise, incarcerated Native Americans are subjected to a variety of carceral institutions. For this project, the term prison will be used as a catch-all for these carceral facilities; however, we acknowledge the differences between each type of system, and how these differences affect the experiences of inmates.
Likewise, incarcerated Native Americans are subjected to a variety of carceral institutions. For this project, the term prison will be used as a catch-all for these carceral facilities; however, we acknowledge the differences between each type of system, and how these differences affect the experiences of inmates.
Jail: locally-operated, short-term facilities; house inmates awaiting trial or sentencing, or those sentences to less than a year
Prison: long-term facilities, used after sentencing; house felons and inmates convicted for more than one year. Federal Prison: operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Department of Justice; house inmates convicted for federal crimes State Prison: operated by the respective state government; house inmates convicted for more than one year |
Sources:
[Map 1]. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1905; Preston McBride. Published by Olivia Hall, Philly.com
[Map 2.] United States Justice Department. Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch, Adminstration Division. Publised by United States Department of Justice, September 12, 2012.
[Map 1]. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1905; Preston McBride. Published by Olivia Hall, Philly.com
[Map 2.] United States Justice Department. Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch, Adminstration Division. Publised by United States Department of Justice, September 12, 2012.