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This picture documents Native American children in music class at an Indian Boarding school named Carlisle Indian School. Many children were forced into boarding schools in order to suppress their culture and teach them the ways of white people. This picture shows that the schools suppressed their Native American Culture in several ways. First of all, the children in the picture are dressed in American clothing, which was very different than their native apparel. They were not allowed to wear traditional clothing, moccasins, or participate in cultural dances. In addition, all the boys have short hair, unlike the traditional Native American male hairstyle. Upon entering the school the boys were forced to cut their hair, a sign of mourning in their culture.
Following is the complete roll of pupils at the Crow Agency Boarding School, Mont., reported by my predecessor for the quarter ended June 30, 1896:
BOYS.
Homer Bull-tongue.
Edson Fire-bear.
John Adams.
Frank Hairy-wolf.
George Washington.
Lafayette Corner-of-the-mouth
Tommie Gardner.
Jimmie Shell-on-the-neck.
Hartford Bear-claw.
Hugh Ten-bears.
Robert Picket.
Barkley On-the-other-side.
Percy Stops.
Walter Young-jack-rabbit.
Eric Likes-the-horse.
Eugene Long-ear.
Antoine No-hair-on-his-tail.
Moses Comes-in-the-day.
Joe Kills-with-his-brother.
Barney One-goose.
Herbert Old bear.
Blake White-bear.
Otto Rides-the-horse.
Prescott Comes-in-a-day.
Mortimer Dreamer.
Albert Chief-child.
Clinton Fire-bear.
Harry White-bear.
Irvie Comes-out-of-fog.
James G. Blaine Buffalo.
Levi Yellow-mule.
Charlie Robbinson.
Arthur Bay-wolf.
Henry No-shin-bone.
Morris Shaffer.
Howard Yellow-weasel.
Fletcher Bird-shirt.
Willie Bends.
Elmer Takes-a-wrinkle.
GIRLS.
Fannie Plenty-butterflies.
Kittie Medicine-tail.
Alice Shoots-as-he-goes.
Maggie Broken-ankle.
Louisa Three-wolves.
Helen Comes-out-of-fog.
Mabel Hunts.
Mamie Reid.
Lillian Hunts.
Louise Enemy-hunter.
Agnes He-says.
Ruth Bear-in-the-middle.
Floy Hairy-wolf.
Bertha Full-mouth.
Eva New-bear.
Lottie Grandmother's-knife.
Rosa La Forge.
Jessie Flat-head-woman.
Sarah Three-irons.
Anna Wesley.
Carrie Wallace.
Mary Old-jack-rabbit.
Clara Spotted-horse.
Ida Wrinkle-face.
Minnie Nods-at-bear.
Lucy Hawk.
Anna Medicine-pipe.
Nellie Shell-on-the-neck.
Olive Young-heifer.
Edith Long-ear.
Susie Leider.
Isabel Lunch.
Bessie Crooked-arm.
Irene Mountain.
Stella Wolf-house.
Jennie Wesley.
Hattie Wallace.
Esther Knows-his-gun.
Lena Old-bear.
Ada Sees-with-his-ear.
Martha Long-neck.
"We speak only their Christian names; they seem to be ashamed of their other names."
- A teacher at Crow Agency Boarding School
This document and quote show how the boarding schools repressed the Native American’s culture through their names and language. At many boarding schools, the children were given Christian names to replace their Native American names. In many cases, they were allowed to keep part of their native name, such as in the roll list above. The native names, however, were often translated into English, removing the culture and meaning out of the original names. They were also not allowed to even speak their language in the schools. The quote shows that not only did the boarding schools attempt to remove their native culture, but make the children ashamed of it. Obviously, this came with success often, as the quote shows. Children are reported to have completely forgotten their Native American language and name upon returning home for visits, or refusing to use it out of shame. The boarding schools, implemented in accordance with the Dawes Act, made many Native American children forget and become ashamed of their culture.
Dawes Severalty Act of 1887
United States Statutes at Large (49th Cong. Sess II, Chp. 119, p. 388-391)
AN ACT
Sec. 10. That nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to affect the right and power of Congress to grant the right of way through any lands granted to an Indian, or a tribe of Indians, for railroads or other highways, or telegraph lines, for the public use, or to condemn such lands to public uses, upon making just compensation.
https://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst203/documents/dawes.html
In this section of the Dawes Severalty Act, congress claims the right to use the surveyed Indian land for their own use, which white men and the government took full advantage of. Obviously, the government not only wanted to assimilate the Native Americans, but take advantage of their valuable land. Much of the original Indian land was sold off to white settlers and companies. Overall, Native American land claims were drained from 138 million to 48 million from 1887-1934. The Native Americans were expected to farm on the portions of land they were given. Much of this land, however, was not appropriate for farming. To worsen their conditions, the government supplied the Indians with little equipment or training, setting them up for economic failure.