If the education was so wonderful, where are the writings by these Indian 
students? This is the point I continue to make. There is an absence of 
writings by Native who were sent to these schools. The writings are from a 
European perspective and of course there is going to be no criticism. It is 
no different than Europeans who wrote about the happy slaves, picking 
cotton, and singing in the fields. I am a descendant of Indians who resided 
in Colonial Virginia, and heard none of those happy stories growing up. In 
fact there was little to talk about, because my ancestors fled Virginia to 
avoid being killed or deported to Indian-territory. We also heard horror 
stories about Carlisle school, and the Indian Children sent there. One of my 
Great-Great Grandmothers, lost her entire family, and until her death did 
not know what had happened to them. I don't believe anyone would try to step 
in the shoes of Jewish people, and try to explain away the holocaust. Yet, 
it seems to be acceptable to do exactly that when it comes to Natives and 
blacks in America.

The only people who can describe what happened and its' impact are the ones 
who were affected by the events.

Anita


>From: Katharine Harbury <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history         
>      <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Indian Schools
>Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 09:12:34 -0400
>
>I conducted research about Fort Christanna for my colleague at the time,
>and participated in two of the three archaeological excavations there,
>which were directed by Chris Stevenson of the Department of Historic
>Resources in Richmond. My research revealed that the school was known to
>be the finest and largest school ever built, and contained as many as
>300 Indian children at one time. Rev. Charles Griffin was indeed a much
>beloved teacher there. The fort was a combination of a fur-trading post
>and school, and the Saponi helped protect the fort along with the
>English. Chris has made a report about Fort Christanna, which you might
>find of interest.
>
>Another Indian school  besides the one in William and Mary is Dartmouth
>College, Hanover, N.H.  It started out also as an educational
>institution for Indians and still accepts Indian students.  The weather
>vane of the college, if  I recall correctly, was that of an instructor
>and an Indian. (And neither of these schools exhibited what you
>mentioned about Carlisle.)
>

> >
> >
> >

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