The Carlisle Indian School, founded in 1879 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, was the first boarding school off of the Indian reservation. The school’s goal: To take Native Americans and transform them into white, “civil” Americans. This process involved forcing the Indian students to adopt white European-based culture, including clothing, appearance, skills, and education. To the white settlers of the west, these Natives were considered “uncivilized,” and like in the past, these Caucasian European-Americans believed the only acceptable, civilized culture was their own. This concept shows white superiority and the poor treatment, once again, of Native Americans. This school disrespected Native American culture and invaded the lives of many.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Indian_Industrial_School
I think that this school directly relates to my topic of the ghost dances that the Indians created in order for them to feel like they had some control over their lives. This school simply seems like another way for the whites to control the Indians and take from them their own culture and way of living. It is particulary interesting that they refered to them as uncivilized because in my opinion we have our own view of what civilized and uncivilized is. To us one thing may seem civilized whereas to a people such as these Indians that same thing could be considered uncivilized.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of "civilizing" any culture is demeaning. I feel it's nearly impossible to define the word civilized. The Carlisle Indian school puts the white settlers in an ignorant light.
ReplyDeletethis is truly degrading to the indians who have strong cultural roots and beliefs. this sends the strong message that anyone who is different is not excepted and will not be tollerated in a functioning society
ReplyDeleteIt just makes me wonder why Americans can claim to be civilized and the Indians not when to me it seems barbaric and distinctly UNcivilized to try to thrust ones culture on another by forcing them into "finishing schools" to change them from who they are
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