Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival: A History of the Stewart Indian School, 1890-2020

Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival explores how settler colonialism influenced US government programs to assimilate Native children at the Stewart Indian School (1890–1980). The school separated students from their families, altered their appearances, and forced them to speak only English. However, Indigenous students and their families subverted rules, leading to tensions between federal officials and local authorities. The book reveals the experiences of alumni and their families, highlighting the trauma of the boarding school experience and the resilience of students who persevered.

Format: Hardback
Length: 334 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival delves into the profound impact of settler colonialism on U.S. government programs aimed at assimilating generations of Native children at the Stewart Indian School (1890-1980). Established in Carson City, Nevada, in 1890, the school proudly embraced its mission to sever the bonds between Native children and their ancestral lands, isolate them from their families, and erode their cultures and traditions. Upon enrollment, newly arrived students were separated from their loved ones, subjected to physical alterations to their appearances, and coerced into exclusively speaking English. However, as Samantha M. Williams reveals in her groundbreaking work, numerous Indigenous students and their families defied the school's rules, sparking tensions between federal officials and local authorities responsible for implementing boarding school policies.

The first book on the history of the Stewart Indian School, Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival, offers a poignant glimpse into the experiences of generations of Stewart School alumni and their families, often conveyed in their own words. Williams meticulously documents how Indigenous experiences at the school evolved over time, drawing insightful connections between these changes and the broader movements of Native American activism and fluctuations in federal policy.

Through her extensive research, Williams uncovers numerous instances of abuse that occurred at Stewart, highlighting the profound trauma inflicted upon these students. At the same time, Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival also pays tribute to the remarkable resilience of generations of students who weathered the most challenging circumstances within the walls of the school. Their stories serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Native people and their unwavering determination to preserve their cultural heritage and identity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496223364