Would We Be Killed?

    As Ota Kte rode that train east, America’s Indian tribes were in trouble. A century earlier, more than 1.5 million Native people were living in America. They belonged to hundreds of unique tribes—just like Ota Kte’s. His ancestors had always lived freely across a large area of the Great Plains. 

    But by 1879, white people and the U.S. Army had pushed most tribes off their lands. At the same time, “white man” diseases had wiped out much of their population. America’s 300,000 remaining Native Americans were forced to live on small pieces of land called reservations.

    For Native people, this was a shocking and upsetting change. The new land was often hard to farm. Hunters could no longer roam freely. Many tribes faced hunger and despair.

    As Ota Kte rode that train east, America’s Indian tribes were in trouble. A century earlier, more than 1.5 million Native people lived in America. They belonged to hundreds of unique tribes. Ota Kte’s ancestors had always lived freely across a large area of the Great Plains.

    But by 1879, white people and the U.S. Army had pushed most tribes off their lands. At the same time, “white man” diseases had killed many of their people. America’s 300,000 remaining Native Americans were forced to live on small pieces of land called reservations.

    This change was hard on the Native people. The new land was often hard to farm. Hunters could no longer roam freely. Many tribes faced hunger and despair.

    As Ota Kte rode that train east, America’s Indian tribes were in trouble. A century earlier, more than 1.5 million Native people were living in America. They belonged to hundreds of unique tribes—just like Ota Kte’s. His ancestors had always lived freely across a large area of the Great Plains.

    But by 1879, white people and the U.S. Army had pushed most tribes off their lands. At the same time, “white man” diseases had wiped out much of their population. America’s 300,000 remaining Native Americans were forced to live on small pieces of land called reservations.

    For Native people, this was a shocking and upsetting change. The new land was often difficult to farm, and hunters could no longer roam freely. Many tribes faced hunger and despair.

    Enter the white man on the train. His name was U.S. Army Captain Richard Henry Pratt. He made Native American people believe that he wanted to help. He told them that he could give their children a better education.

    Pratt had convinced the U.S. government to start a boarding school for Native Americans. They called it the Carlisle School. That’s where Ota Kte was headed on the train that day. 

    But Pratt didn’t just want to educate Native American children. He planned to strip them of their heritage. In his opinion, they needed to lose their “Indian-ness” to succeed in America.  

    And so Captain Pratt did plan to “kill” part of Ota Kte—the Indian part.

    The white man on the train was U.S. Army Captain Richard Henry Pratt. He told Native Americans that he wanted to help. He said he could give their kids a better education.

    Pratt had convinced the U.S. government to start a boarding school for Native Americans: the Carlisle School. That’s where Ota Kte was headed on the train.

    But Pratt didn’t just want to educate Native American kids. He planned to strip them of their heritage. He thought they needed to lose their “Indian-ness” to succeed in America.  

    Captain Pratt did plan to “kill” part of Ota Kte—the Indian part.

    Enter the white man on the train—U.S. Army Captain Richard Henry Pratt. He made Native American people believe that he wanted to help. He told them that he could provide their children with a better education.

    Pratt had convinced the U.S. government to start a boarding school for Native Americans. It was called the Carlisle School. That’s where Ota Kte was headed on the train that day.

    But Pratt didn’t just want to educate Native American children. He planned to strip them of their heritage. In his opinion, they needed to lose their “Indian-ness” to succeed in America.  

    And so Captain Pratt did intend to “kill” part of Ota Kte—the Indian part.

    The changes began the moment Ota Kte stepped through the gates of Carlisle. Like all students, he was given a Christian first name: Luther. Then his father’s last name was changed to English. That’s how Ota Kte became Luther Standing Bear.

    Along with his new name came a new “American” look. His long hair was cut short. His leggings and moccasins were taken away. He was given an itchy wool uniform and black leather boots. He was forced to learn English and to say Christian prayers at meals. 

    Luther went to classes and did his chores. At night, he heard children around him sobbing. 

    He missed his family too. But he thought of what his father had told him. His father believed an education would give Luther a better future.

    When Ota Kte reached Carlisle, he was given a Christian first name: Luther. Then his father’s last name was changed to English. Ota Kte became Luther Standing Bear.

    And that wasn’t all. His long hair was cut. His leggings and moccasins were taken away. He was given an itchy uniform and black boots. He was forced to learn English and to say Christian prayers.

    Luther went to classes. He did his chores.

    At night, he heard kids crying. He missed his family too. But he thought of what his father had said: An education would give him a better future.

    The changes began the moment Ota Kte stepped through the gates of Carlisle. Like all students, he was given a Christian first name: Luther. Then his father’s last name was changed to English. That’s how Ota Kte became Luther Standing Bear.

    Along with his new name came a new “American” look. His long hair was cut short. His leggings and moccasins were replaced with an itchy wool uniform and black leather boots. He was forced to learn English and to say Christian prayers at meals.

    Luther went to classes and did his chores. At night, he heard children around him sobbing.

    He missed his family too, but he remembered what his father had told him—that an education would give Luther a better future.

    The U.S. government saw Carlisle as a huge success. After visiting, one government agent wrote a letter. He said that the school was solving the “Indian problem”— and that the children there were thriving. But were they?

    What was it really like for young children to be sent so far away from their families? Most became very homesick. Many fought back against the strict rules. Others tried to run away. 

    Still, the U.S. government opened other schools like Carlisle. And parents were no longer asked to send their children. They were forced. By the early 1900s, tens of thousands of Native American children were at boarding schools. 

    All of these schools punished students for being late to class. Some schools even beat children for not speaking English. 

    Meanwhile, students lived in crowded buildings. Deadly diseases spread easily. Hundreds of Native American children died.

    The U.S. government saw Carlisle as a success. After a visit, a government agent wrote a letter. It said the school was solving the “Indian problem.” It said the kids were thriving. But were they?

    What was it like for kids to be so far from their families? Most were homesick. Many broke the strict rules. Some tried to run away.

    Still, the government opened more boarding schools. And parents were no longer asked to send their kids. They were forced.

    By the early 1900s, tens of thousands of Native American kids were at boarding schools.

    Students were punished for lateness. Some were beaten for not speaking English.

    Students lived in crowded buildings. Diseases spread easily. Hundreds of kids died.

    The U.S. government saw Carlisle as a huge success. After a visit, one government agent wrote a letter stating that the school was solving the “Indian problem” and that the children there were thriving. But were they?

    What was it really like for young children to be sent so far away from their families? Most became very homesick. Many fought back against the strict rules. Others tried to run away.

    Still, the U.S. government opened other schools like Carlisle—and rather than being asked to send their children, parents were forced. By the early 1900s, tens of thousands of Native American children were at boarding schools.

    All of these schools punished students for being late to class. Some schools even beat children for not speaking English.

    Meanwhile, students lived in crowded buildings where deadly diseases spread easily. Hundreds of Native American children died.

    Over the decades, Native Americans began to demand more rights. They wanted their children closer to home. And they wanted them at schools that taught them to be proud of their heritage. One by one, the boarding schools were shut down. Carlisle was closed in 1918. 

    As for Luther Standing Bear, Carlisle changed his life forever. Like most of the school’s graduates, he returned to his reservation. But he no longer felt like he fit in. Luther was caught between two worlds.

    Later on in life, Luther worked to educate others about his people. He became a writer and a voice for Native American rights. He spoke up about how the U.S. government treated Indians. And his books taught Americans about the Lakota tribe.

    In these ways, he worked to bring the Indian— in himself and others—back to life.

    Over time, Native Americans began to demand more rights. They wanted their kids closer to home. And they wanted schools that taught their kids to be proud of their heritage. One by one, the boarding schools closed. Carlisle closed in 1918.

    Carlisle changed Luther’s life forever. Back on his reservation, he no longer felt like he fit in. He was caught between two worlds.

    Later on, Luther became a writer. He spoke up about how the U.S. government treated Indians. His books taught people about the Lakota tribe.

    In that way, he worked to bring the Indian—in himself and others—back to life.

    Over the decades, Native Americans began to demand more rights. They wanted their children closer to home, and they wanted them at schools that taught them to be proud of their heritage. One by one, the boarding schools were shut down. Carlisle was closed in 1918.

    As for Luther Standing Bear, Carlisle changed his life forever. Like most of the school’s graduates, he returned to his reservation. But he no longer felt like he fit in. Luther was caught between two worlds.

    Later on in life, Luther worked to educate others about his people. He became a writer and a voice for Native American rights. He spoke up about how the U.S. government treated Indians. And his books taught Americans about the Lakota tribe.

    In that way, he worked to bring the Indian—in himself and others—back to life.