Committed: Remembering Native Kinship in and beyond Institutions

The Canton Asylum for Insane Indians was a federal psychiatric hospital in South Dakota that held hundreds of adults and children from Native nations between 1902 and 1934. Susan Burch's book Committed tells the story of the Indigenous people-families, communities, and nations who have experienced the impact of this history, expanding the boundaries of Native American history, disability studies, and U.S. social and cultural history.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 30 April 2021
\n Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
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Between 1902 and 1934, the United States confined hundreds of adults and children from dozens of Native nations at the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians, a federal psychiatric hospital in South Dakota. However, detention at the Indian Asylum, as families experienced it, was not the beginning or end of the story. For them, Canton Asylum was one of many places of imposed removal and confinement, including reservations, boarding schools, orphanages, and prison-hospitals. Despite the long reach of institutionalization for those forcibly held at the asylum, the tenacity of relationships extended within and beyond institutional walls.

In this accessible and innovative work, Susan Burch tells the story of the Indigenous people-families, communities, and nations, across generations to the present day-who have experienced the impact of this history. Drawing on oral history interviews, correspondence, material objects, and archival sources, Burch reframes the histories of institutionalized people and the places that held them. In so doing, Committed expands the boundaries of Native American history, disability studies, and U.S. social and cultural history generally.

The Canton Asylum for Insane Indians was a federal psychiatric hospital in South Dakota that operated from 1902 to 1934. It was one of many institutions where Indigenous people, including adults and children, were forcibly removed and confined from their Native nations. The asylum was part of a broader system of institutionalization that included reservations, boarding schools, orphanages, and prison-hospitals.

The experiences of those forcibly held at the asylum were complex and varied. Some individuals were diagnosed with mental illnesses, while others were subjected to forced labor or subjected to abusive treatment. Families were separated, and communication was often difficult, making it challenging to maintain relationships and support networks.

Despite the harsh conditions, there were instances of resilience and resistance among the Indigenous people held at the asylum. Families and communities continued to maintain connections and support each other, often through secret languages and cultural practices. Some individuals also sought to educate themselves and others about their cultural heritage and history, and to advocate for their rights and dignity.

The history of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians is a reflection of the broader history of colonization and oppression of Indigenous peoples in the United States. It highlights the devastating impact of institutionalization on Indigenous communities and the ongoing struggles for justice and healing.

Susan Burch's book, Committed: The Past and Future of Indigenous Peoples and the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians, is a valuable contribution to the study of this history. Burch draws on a wide range of sources, including oral history interviews, correspondence, material objects, and archival sources, to provide a comprehensive and nuanced account of the experiences of those forcibly held at the asylum.

Through her work, Burch reframes the histories of institutionalized people and the places that held them. She challenges the dominant narratives that portray Indigenous people as helpless and vulnerable and instead emphasizes their resilience, strength, and agency. She also highlights the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples for justice and healing, and the importance of recognizing and addressing the legacy of colonialism and oppression.

Committed is an important book for anyone interested in Native American history, disability studies, and U.S. social and cultural history. It provides a valuable perspective on the experiences of Indigenous people and the institutions that have shaped their lives. It also offers insights into the ongoing struggles for justice and healing and the importance of recognizing and addressing the legacy of colonialism and oppression.

\n Weight: 326g\n
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781469661629\n \n