I just recently read the book Stringing Rosaries by Denise K. Lajimodiere, in an attempt to continue educating myself on how Colonialism affected/affects Indigenous Peoples. I kind of knew what I was getting into when reading it as per the topic it was about which is actual first hand accounts from multiple peoples interviewed of what went on at Indian Boarding Schools of which, the last one closed by the way as recently as 1996.
I like reading biographies or stories told about real people and their life experiences. Was this a hard read? It was a bit. Upsetting and maddening at times and sometimes it enraged me. For some, what was told in the book may seem shocking and certain things were for me because I just had not heard about some of what went on and how just blatantly stupid and disgusting certain things were that were done to people, though some things were not that shocking because I had heard of the instances before by different avenues.
Richard Henry Pratt created the first Indian Boarding School in 1879 organizing it under rigid, strict and harsh military standards. His belief of "Kill the Indian in him, and save the man." is how relentless and unforgiving the schools were, especially when adding Christianity into the mix. Later schools were subsequently opened under Christian control run by Priests and Nuns who were equally as ruthless and abusive both physically and sexually in their practices. Often times more than not ending up killing the children that were in their possession. And I use the term possession purposely.
I don't want to go much further into the book as not to spoil it's contents. Even though it brought about some strong emotion in it's contents, (which is exactly what it was designed to do) I think it is worth reading by others in the group which is why I am posting it as a new topic.
I like reading biographies or stories told about real people and their life experiences. Was this a hard read? It was a bit. Upsetting and maddening at times and sometimes it enraged me. For some, what was told in the book may seem shocking and certain things were for me because I just had not heard about some of what went on and how just blatantly stupid and disgusting certain things were that were done to people, though some things were not that shocking because I had heard of the instances before by different avenues.
Richard Henry Pratt created the first Indian Boarding School in 1879 organizing it under rigid, strict and harsh military standards. His belief of "Kill the Indian in him, and save the man." is how relentless and unforgiving the schools were, especially when adding Christianity into the mix. Later schools were subsequently opened under Christian control run by Priests and Nuns who were equally as ruthless and abusive both physically and sexually in their practices. Often times more than not ending up killing the children that were in their possession. And I use the term possession purposely.
I don't want to go much further into the book as not to spoil it's contents. Even though it brought about some strong emotion in it's contents, (which is exactly what it was designed to do) I think it is worth reading by others in the group which is why I am posting it as a new topic.