>>9560969
yes, i've seen the stats on how many children go missing. I guess it's an old tale.
Here's from a Native Man who grew up in one of their homes?
"BEHIND BIA DOORS…boarding school…
Wrangell Institute 1950-58. Some times writing about boarding school can be and is depressing. But this needs to be told because it’s a tragic history for many of us still alive today! The reason I write about this time is for our children and many of our on Native people did not know of this part of our history. It’s been covered up too long. I want them to know and understand why we are the way we are and what we went through. Some of us are survivors and some are still in a sleepwalk because of the experience of Boarding School. Many died not telling their stories because the only place that was safe for them is the wall of alcoholism they built around them selves to hide their shame and whatever dignity they had left. My two sister and 3 older brothers kept their secrets and pass on into the spiritual world not telling their stories.
I know too many left this world without being healed and many are struggling with alcohol and unhealthy way of life. Those are the ones I want to talk and write about because they will not open up yet and still behind that close BIA doors. The good thing about those of us that went to boarding school before the 1960 like I did, when we found healing, this made us free and strong for those still struggling. We learn to forgive. We learn to love deeply. We appreciate our children! We protect them the best we know how.
I know the boarding schools got little better after the 1960s from students that went. I do not talk for them. I know it was worst beyond the 1950s from my brother and aunties. Some never return or return 50 years later still struggling to find out who they are.
This is from so long ago…separated from my mom and dad and the life in the village I love and trying to see why and what this is all about!
I remember the crying at night from the other children, that were my age, wondering why we were here, homesick, picked on, and not knowing how to defend ourselves… I cried with them. Some older kind students would comfort us.
I remember the punishment we would receive for little things and big things like some would wet their bed and the whole dorm would be punished. Those bed wetters would be pick on and some mean students would try to tie their private parts. Lots of mean and dirty ways were used to prevent the whole Little dorm from getting into trouble.
I see my older brother Nelson hit by broom handle because he won’t knuckle under to them!
Just to survive kids turn on each other and get special privileges if they tell on each other.
Some of us try to keep every rules to stay out of trouble but even if we try we never could. Some lie about us doing something we didn’t.
Some were so institutionalize that we live it the rest of our lives. Some like my brother Nelson would not buckle under and became a hero for all of us! He was sent home the second year. Him and My other brother Ben and an Englishshoe student were put in a dark room with only a toilet And a door with a place to slip a tray of food into them once a day for 30 days. A mean punishment to try to sneak into Wrangell town 6-7 miles away and got caught.these were just the few of the punishment. There were pretty harsh punishment that I will talk about.
There were good times like a trip into town for Christmas by church that come to school. Also 4th of July trip to town. One nice staff member always always took us overnight camping, marshmallow and hotdog roast and tell us stories. He got fired for this! I will tell about him later.
But in the back of our mind was…What did I do to deserve this. I wonder if mom and dad love me! will I ever see home again? Some never went home. Some came home years later!
I remember the soft weeping at night from 5-7 years old as we lay in our bed when the lights went out. We cried missing parents and wondering why they sent us here. Took years to find out they had no say! We quit crying when we hear a staff come into the dorm since we all know crying for missing mom and dad was punishment.
I believe this is about the time we start building walls around us to protect ourselves and some of us kept that wall all our life… it took me after 45-50 years with the help from Indian Recovery Camp and Native Council to start taking down those Walls around my heart! I just wish they know the freedom I felt when the walls came tumbling down!
Below in 1954 the second time heading out to boarding school!"