Native Boarding School Legacy: Unforgivable Trauma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Book Sheds Light on the Dark History of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools

[City, State] – A new book, Medicine River, by Mary Annette Pember, a citizen of the Red cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe and national correspondent for ICT News, is set to be released Tuesday, adding a crucial voice to the ongoing dialog about the legacy of Indian boarding schools in the United States. The book interweaves Pember’s personal history with the broader narrative of the schools, which operated from the 1860s to the 1960s with the explicit goal of assimilating Native American children into white American culture.

Medicine river delves into the experiences of Pember’s mother,bernice Rabideaux,who was sent to St. mary’s Catholic Indian boarding school on the Ojibwe reservation in Odanah, Wisconsin, in the 1930s. The book explores the lasting impact of this experience on Bernice and the bond she forged with her daughter through sharing her “terrible stories” of the “Sisters School” and the psychological and physical abuse she endured.

“My mother kind of put me on this quest from my earliest memory,” Pember said. “I’ve always known I would somehow tell her story.”

More than 400 Indian boarding schools operated across the U.S., serving as instruments of what many historians now describe as cultural annihilation. Children were forbidden from speaking their native languages, practicing their religions, or observing their traditions. Discipline was harsh, and comforts were scarce.

Richard Henry Pratt, an army officer who founded the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, famously articulated the schools’ mission: to “kill the Indian in him, and save the man.”

Pember emphasizes that the boarding schools were just one component of a broader federal agenda. “If they had just done the schools to us, it would not have been so bad,” she said. “But I always think of it as this triple whammy that happened to Native people in the 19th century. It was removal [forced relocation west], then allotment [dividing lands collectively held], then taking the kids away. It was a concerted attack on our culture, our language, and our holdings. That was what it was really about. They wanted our land.”

The long-term effects of the boarding schools are still felt today within Native American communities, contributing to intergenerational trauma, loss of language and culture, and a host of social and economic challenges. A 2023 report by the National Indian Health Board found a direct correlation between boarding school attendance and increased rates of substance abuse, mental health issues, and suicide among Native populations.

Efforts to address this legacy are ongoing. In 2021, the Department

What specific actions can individuals take to support Native communities and contribute to the healing process?

Interview: Mary Annette Pember on “Medicine River” and the Legacy of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools

Archyde News is pleased to present an exclusive interview with Mary Annette Pember, the author of the new book, Medicine River. Ms. Pember, a citizen of the Red Cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe and a national correspondent for ICT News, offers profound insights into the dark history of U.S. Indian boarding schools and their lasting impact.

Unveiling the Past: A Personal Journey

Archyde News: Mary Annette, thank you for joining us. Medicine River delves into your mother’s experiences at St. Mary’s catholic Indian boarding school.Could you tell us a bit about the genesis of this book and what drove you to tell her story?

Mary Annette Pember: Thank you for having me. My mother, Bernice Rabideaux, shared her experiences at St.Mary’s from my earliest memories. these stories were a constant presence in my childhood. It was her deep desire to preserve her story, but also to share it knowing that so many others experienced the same, that put me on this path.”

The Reality of Assimilation: A system of Abuse

Archyde News: The book sheds light on the harsh realities faced by Native american children in these schools. What were the primary methods used to enforce assimilation,and what were the long-term consequences?

Mary Annette Pember: The core of assimilation was a systematic attempt to eradicate Native culture.Children were forbidden to speak their languages, practise their traditions, or engage in any cultural practices. Discipline was often brutal, and the goal, as Richard Henry Pratt famously stated, was to “kill the Indian to save the man.” The long-term consequences are devastating: intergenerational trauma, loss of language and cultural identity, substance abuse, and mental health issues are rampant in Native communities today.

Beyond Boarding Schools: A Broader Context

archyde News: You highlight that the boarding schools were just one part of a broader federal agenda. can you elaborate on the other key components of this “triple whammy” that impacted Native communities in the 19th century?

Mary annette Pember: Absolutely. It wasn’t just the schools. Firstly, there was the forced removal, the taking of Native people off their lands and putting them on reservations. Then came allotment, which broke up collectively held lands, opening them up for non-Native settlers. Finally came the boarding schools. So removing the People,separating the People,and destroying the People. this combined assault on land, culture, and identity was a concerted effort to dispossess Native people and strip them of their rights.”

Hope and Healing: addressing the Legacy

Archyde News: What are some of the most crucial efforts being undertaken to address the legacy of these schools and to facilitate healing within native communities?

Mary Annette Pember: There’s a growing awareness and acknowledgment of the atrocities committed.Organizations are working on finding remains of children who died at these schools and the Department Of Interior is uncovering the truth of what happened at these schools. We are also seeing more support for language and cultural revitalization programs, mental health services, and increased funding for Native-led initiatives focused on healing and empowerment. The Native peoples are doing this work, it is often unrecognized and underfunded.

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action

Archyde News: The book offers not only a ancient account but also a call for understanding and reconciliation. What is one key message you hope readers take away from Medicine River?

Mary Annette Pember: I hope readers understand that this history is not just in the past; its effects are still being felt.Reconciliation requires acknowledging the truth, listening to survivors, and supporting efforts to heal and rebuild. Every reader can contribute by learning more, advocating for change, and supporting Native communities.

discussion Points:

What specific actions can individuals take to support Native communities and contribute to the healing process? Share your thoughts in the comments below.