What Were Native American Boarding Schools?

What Were Native American Boarding Schools?

Author: Liam Heffernan February 25, 2025 Duration: 35:26
America: The Story of the USA
HistoryCultureNewsPoliticsSocietySociety & Culture

This week, we’re diving deep into what President Joe Biden called “one of the worst chapters in American history” — the Native American boarding schools.

These institutions, which operated for over a century, were designed with the aim of systematically stripping away the cultures and identities of Native American children, often through brutal means.

Trust me, it's not going to be a light chat; we’re tackling some heavy topics that might leave you feeling a bit uneasy. However, it’s super important to understand the history behind these schools and the devastating impact they had on entire communities.

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Special guest for this episode:

  • Jacqueline Fear-Segal, Professor of American and Indigenous Histories at the University of East Anglia

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Highlights from this episode:

  • This episode explores the dark history of Native American boarding schools, highlighting their role in systematic abuse.
  • Over 500 boarding schools were established across the United States, aimed at assimilating Native children into white culture.
  • The boarding school system was not just about education, but involved severe cultural suppression and trauma for generations.
  • Despite the oppressive past, Native communities today are showing remarkable resilience and a revival of their cultural identities.

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Additional Resources:

Forced assimilation and abuse: How US boarding schools devastated Native American tribes | News | cherokeephoenix.org

Biden apologizes to Native Americans for abusive government-funded boarding schools | CNN Politics

The U.S. history of Native American Boarding Schools — The Indigenous Foundation

Historian: American Indian Boarding Schools and Their Impact | TIME

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:

Who Are Native Americans?

How Did Slavery Impact Cherokee Nation?

What is Thanksgiving?

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Hosted by Liam Heffernan, America: The Story of the USA is a deep and ongoing conversation about the forces that have shaped the nation. This isn't just a history lesson; it's an exploration of how the past directly informs today's headlines and cultural shifts. Each episode brings together a remarkable range of voices, from Nobel laureates and acclaimed historians to veteran journalists, to dissect pivotal moments and current events with nuance and depth. You'll hear discussions that connect the dots between a centuries-old political decision and a modern social movement, or examine a breaking news story through the lens of long-standing cultural patterns. The aim is to provide a richer, more connected understanding of the American experience in all its complexity. By weaving together threads from history, politics, society, and culture, this podcast offers a comprehensive and thoughtful narrative. For those who want to look beyond the soundbites and understand the deeper currents running through the United States, this series serves as an essential and engaging resource. Tune in for a consistently insightful analysis that treats the American story as the living, evolving saga that it truly is.
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