The Language of Resistance: Native American Boarding Schools

American Indian boarding schools, or residential schools, were created to “civilize” American Indians by assimilating students into American culture. One of the unexpected outcomes of these schools was the development of a pan-Indian identity, as students from various tribes were able to meet each other and develop a shared identity. In this lesson, students will explore the role of language in these schools and how it was used to oppress and, later, empower Native American students.