South Dakota tribe seeks children's century-old remains

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

South Dakota tribe seeks children's century-old remains

Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press

Updated 4:17 pm, Monday, May 9, 2016





ROSEBUD, S.D. (AP) — The remains of at least 10 Native American children who died nearly 2,000 miles away from their homes while being forced to attend a government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania more than a century ago could soon be repatriated under an effort taken up by a South Dakota tribe.

The exhumation and return of the bodies of the children who as students of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School were stripped of their culture and left vulnerable to abuse won't be an easy undertaking. But leaders of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe hope that a meeting with representatives from the U.S. Army and other tribes scheduled for Tuesday will begin the negotiation process to repatriate the remains of the 10 children, and eventually, of the dozens more who died while attending the school as part of an assimilation policy intended to rid the children from Native American traditions and replace them with European culture.

"We are hoping that the United States government will say 'Yes, let's bring your relatives home,'" said Russell Eagle Bear, the historic preservation officer for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. "Back then, the military had total control over us and they took these kids, and especially during those first five years of starting that school, our youth died. Back then in that timeline, our people were basically under almost a hostage situation so our people couldn't go all the way out to Pennsylvania to retrieve loved ones."

The boarding school, founded by Army officer Richard Henry Pratt, operated between 1879 and 1918 and saw more than 10,000 Native American children, who upon arrival were required to have their braids cut off and dress in military-style uniforms in an effort to grind out their heritage. Students were punished for speaking their native language and had to go by a European name.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/South-Dakota-tribe-seeks-children-s-century-old-7423436.php

[jwirr]

1. These histories are still well known in our communities and

they are NOT forgiven. They knew better.

[NWCorona]

3. Sadly this is just one piece of the puzzle with many more out there.

"The boarding school, founded by Army officer Richard Henry Pratt, operated between 1879 and 1918 and saw more than 10,000 Native American children, who upon arrival were required to have their braids cut off and dress in military-style uniforms in an effort to grind out their heritage. Students were punished for speaking their native language and had to go by a European name."

I hope that these children can finally be properly put to rest.

[EndElectoral]

2. I've spoken to the people who run that place, and those graves have been moved.

The lady at the historical center there told me that they may just be a mass burial place with individual markers put up. There are even cases of burial stones for the same person in different spots. Was awhile before they were even marked.

All for it as Rosebud was where Luther Standing Bear came from before his father relocated to Pine Ridge. Wil lbe watching how this plays out.

[brer cat]

4. Another tragic and disgraceful part of our history

that has been kept out of sight. I hope they are successful in getting the children's remains returned to their home.

[EndElectoral]

5. Follow up to Tuesday's meeting

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160511_Tribal_leaders_implore_Army_officials___Bring_our_children_home_.html

ROSEBUD, S.D. - Her hands didn't shake when she took the microphone, nor did her voice tremble when she spoke.

Yufna Soldier Wolf had waited a long time to speak to these people from the Army, these men and women from the federal government, come all the way to this Indian reservation on the far southern edge of South Dakota. It was their turn to listen.

Across the room stood a portrait of a boy, Soldier Wolf's great-uncle. He was 14 when he died at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, after being taken from his Northern Arapaho family and tribe. His body lies there still, surrounded by nearly 200 other native children on the grounds of what is now the Army War College.

Soldier Wolf told the government representatives on Tuesday that she wants him back - wants his remains returned to her, to his people, to his tribe, to his land, where he can be properly buried, mourned, and remembered.

Frustration tinged her voice as she spoke.

"I'm here imploring you, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, trying to negotiate something that should be inherited," she said. "It should be a basic human right, and a basic civil right, to have our children back."


...

Army lawyer Justin Buller drew applause when he said the government would work to return the children's remains, through the official process provided for disinterment. He offered an apology, and said the Army would pay the cost of repatriation.

"I'd like to have that in writing," responded one man in the crowd, Keith Horse Looking Sr.