What was the purpose of Indian boarding schools?

The stated purpose of Indian boarding schools in the United States and Canada was to assimilate Indigenous children into mainstream American and Canadian culture. This was done through a process of forced cultural change, often described as cultural genocide. The schools aimed to:

* Eradicate Indigenous languages and cultures: Children were forbidden from speaking their native languages and practicing their traditions. Punishments for doing so were often severe.

* Convert children to Christianity: Religious instruction was a central part of the curriculum, aiming to replace Indigenous spiritual beliefs.

* Teach children Western values and skills: This included vocational training for jobs deemed suitable for Indigenous people, often low-skilled labor, and a Western-style education designed to fit them into the dominant society.

* Separate children from their families and communities: The long-term separation from their families and communities was meant to break ties with Indigenous culture and identity, effectively severing the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations.

* Control Indigenous populations: The schools were also a tool to control Indigenous populations and limit their power and influence. By removing children from their communities, the schools weakened the fabric of Indigenous societies.

It's crucial to understand that the stated aims were a mask for a brutal system of cultural oppression. The true effect of these schools was the widespread trauma, loss of cultural identity, and lasting damage inflicted upon Indigenous communities. The legacy of these schools continues to impact Indigenous peoples today.