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The discovery of mass graves at former residential schools for Indigenous children in Canada has prompted a reckoning in places in the U.S. where similar schools were located. In Carlisle, Pennsylvania, one such school operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the graves of hundreds of children were discovered there, uncovering the tragic legacy of a time when Native American children were removed from their homes, pressured to assimilate, and often abused. Listen to hear the story of this school and how the U.S. government is trying to return the remains of the children to their Native tribes for proper burial.
Story Length: 4:47
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Spanish colonization in the Americas staring in the 16th century was accompanied by the Catholic Church hoping to convert as many Native Americans to Christianity as possible. A central figure was Father Junipero Serra, who forcibly converted thousands of Native Americans to the Catholic faith. That’s why in 2015 when Pope Francis, the first leader of the Catholic Church from Latin America, awarded the 18th century Spanish priest sainthood, there was a backlash from Native Americans. Descendants of Native Americans say Serra is responsible for destroying their traditions and ways of life. Listen to the audio story to hear both sides of this story and the controversy surrounding the Pope’s decision to make Father Serra a saint.
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The massacre of more than 150 Sioux Native Americans in 1890 at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota was the last major confrontation between the U.S. Army and Native Americans. A book was written about this in 1970 titled Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and a movie was recently made. They tell the story of the efforts of the United States government to assimilate Native Americans into American life, which nearly destroyed the culture, religion, and way of life of Native American peoples. Listen to hear more about how this history of mistreatment is portrayed in the movie about these events.
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The story of the Osage tribe reflects, in many ways, the typical Native American experience in America. The Osage were a once-powerful midwestern tribe forced to relocate to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. However, the land they settled on turned out to be oil-rich, and the Osage became tremendously wealthy as a result. A recent book tells the horrifying story of how, in the early 20th century, dozens of Osage were murdered by local whites aiming to take control of their money. Listen to the author describe how the sinister plot unfolded and how the subsequent investigation led to the rise of the FBI.
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The Declaration of Independence is one of America’s sacred texts. Yet a closer examination of it reveals contradictory ideas about whose liberty and equality the Declaration of Independence was championing when it was written. For many Native Americans, the Declaration’s contradictions are glaring. It asserts the idea that people are born equal, but it also calls Native Americans “merciless...savages.” It justified a revolution to free colonists from British rule, but the war was also fought to determine who could colonize Indian land in the west. Listen to learn how the Declaration of Independence reflects both the promise of America’s founding and its conflicted history.
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