Published: April 7, 2023
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Online presentation and discussion
Native American organizations and the U.S. Department of the Interior are asking religious institutions to conduct research on their involvement in the forced assimilation of Native children by operating Indigenous boarding schools. During the 19th and 20th centuries, almost all Christian denominations operated schools whose goals were to “Christianize and civilize the Indians” — in other words annihilate Indigenous cultures. Native Americans today continue to suffer harm emanating from these schools. Several denominations, including Quakers, are now conducting research and collaborating with the DoI’s investigations.
On April 16, Quakers Paula Palmer, Gail Melix (Herring Pond Wampanoag), and Andrew Grant will offer a slide presentation about the Quaker Indigenous boarding schools. The program includes images of the Native students and the Quaker teachers and schools, as well as direct quotations of Native people and Quakers. Please be advised that these may be painful to see and hear. Time for reflection, sharing, and Q&A are built into the 2-hour presentation. Please address any questions to paulaRpalmer(at)gmail(dot)com.
from Paula Palmer, Boulder Friends Meeting