Native American boarding schools aimed to erase indigenous cultures. Students fought back, secretly practicing languages, sharing stories, and preserving traditions. They found creative ways to maintain their identities despite harsh restrictions.
Resistance took many forms. Students formed secret networks, organized protests, and planned escapes. They adapted cultural practices, used coded communication, and maintained connections with their communities. These strategies helped preserve Native cultures against assimilation efforts.
Covert Cultural Preservation
Secret Language and Cultural Practices
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Students secretly practiced their native languages when out of earshot of teachers and administrators
Created coded systems to communicate in their native tongues without detection
Organized clandestine gatherings to share traditional stories, songs, and customs
Developed subtle hand signals or gestures to convey cultural meanings
Incorporated native words or phrases into English conversations as a form of resistance
Preservation of Traditional Knowledge
Memorized and silently recited tribal histories, creation stories, and genealogies
Secretly taught younger students about their cultural heritage and traditions
Maintained connections to tribal elders through hidden correspondence
Crafted traditional items using available materials (beadwork, carvings)
Adapted cultural practices to fit within the confines of boarding school life
Covert Spiritual and Ceremonial Practices
Performed abbreviated versions of traditional ceremonies in secret locations
Used natural objects (rocks, plants) as stand-ins for sacred items
Conducted prayer circles or meditation sessions under the guise of study groups
Maintained personal medicine bundles or talismans hidden from school authorities
Adapted Christian prayers to include elements of traditional spiritual beliefs
Student Resistance Strategies
Solidarity and Collective Action
Formed secret support networks among students from different tribes
Organized silent protests or boycotts of school activities
Developed systems to warn each other of approaching staff members
Shared survival strategies and coping mechanisms with new arrivals
Created underground newsletters or journals to document their experiences
Escape and Avoidance Tactics
Planned and executed elaborate escape attempts from boarding schools
Developed hiding spots within school grounds to avoid punishment or forced activities
Feigned illness to avoid participation in assimilation programs
Intentionally performed poorly in English language classes as a form of resistance
Coordinated with family members for assistance in leaving the school
Communication with the Outside World
Wrote coded letters to family members describing their true experiences
Befriended sympathetic staff members to send uncensored messages home
Used visiting days to secretly pass information to relatives
Collected and preserved evidence of mistreatment for future documentation
Maintained journals or diaries hidden from school authorities
Adaptive Resistance Strategies
Reinterpreted school teachings through a Native cultural lens
Incorporated traditional designs into art projects assigned by the school
Used English language skills to advocate for Native rights and concerns
Participated in school sports or music programs while maintaining cultural identity
Developed bilingual abilities to navigate both Native and non-Native worlds