Corbett Mack: The Life of a Northern Paiute

3. Boarding School (1905-10)

3 Boarding School (1905-10) 31. Stewart Institute And I don't see why they don't let me go to school sooner! 'Cause them old-timers, you know, they got funny idea.... Won't let us go to school to learn to read and to write ... to get to know somethin' better that way. 'Cause none my brother and sister do that, you know. 'Cause that time, Indian can't go into the public school. No, sir! Don't let 'em to mix with them taivo. ... 'Cause you see why? They say we nuuma got some kind sickness, so they don't let us into their school. Yes, sir! Have to build a special school [for us consequently]. ... How some them Indian boy go up there to Stewart [the Carson Indian School] that time.... Then way later on, this public school start up in Colony [District, Smith Valley]-at Simpson Ranch. The other one, in Wellington, that's too far away for us to go.... But you think my folks gonna let Eddie [Mack] and my sister [Lizzie] go? Hell, no! Only Lena [Rogers] go to that other [Colony District] school. ... Anyway, me, I know I always wanna go. Yes, sir! 'Cause I'm always thinkin' maybe I can learn somethin' better on the white way? You know, by book. ... So don't have to be so dumb all the time! 'Cause I'm too wild back then, partner. Yes, sir! Don't even know my age! My right name! Karroo 'oo! Too dumb! Don't know nothin' when I'm a boy! 'Cause you see why? Never 65 66 Corbett Mack get too much acquainted with taivo natsee [white boys] in my own valley, so I never [even] learn their language before I go to Stewart. ... And I'm around fifteen, sixteen when I go up there first time [ca. 1905]. Too big for that kindergarten school. ... Anyway, that don't look too good, so I have to go to grammar school. And you see who's doin' that [Le., transporting kids], that time? Tom Mitchell! Yes, sir! 'Cause he's workin' for the government! He get a badge, you know; they give him horse and buggy and he come around the start every school year: catch them kid who don't wanna go; take 'em to Carson City in that wagon like that. But you see who take me? My uncles.... And that's Buckaroo George [Walker] and Johnny Jones. Yes, sir! 'Cause they're the one take me up there first time.... 'Cause Buckaroo George-he work for Dan Simpson with the Old Man-he wanna see his own kid.... On a visit, you know. 'Cause he's got two son [Martinez and Buckaroo George, Jr.] and one daughter [Elizabeth] up there.... Wants me to go along with him. And so I do, too. 'Cause I wanna learn somethin'. Yes, sir! The Old Man, he don't wanna take me, so they do. And that's fall the year, too, partner: September when that school start ... same as taivo school. Ride take, oh, pretty near half-a-day to get to Carson City.... 'Cause you see why? Ain't got no car. No, sir! Have to go up there by buggy.... "Corbett, you stay here. Your cousin-brother are here; cousin-sister, too. So, you not gonna feel too bad!" Yes, sir! What Buckaroo George's sayin' to me. And so, by God, I do! Stay! But he's not my real hai'ee [father's brother], Buckaroo George.... Just by Indian [i.e., classificatory] way. And that one boy he's got up there, Buckaroo George Walker, Jr., he's way older than me. He's the one teach me English, you know; that Buckaroo George Walker, Jr. Never did marry, though.... And same way, too, he don't work too much. No, sir! Die in Wellington of weak heart: cough all the time, blood come outta his mouth, so he die. 'Cause Buckaroo George Walker, Jr., he always look like a sick guy. Small, you know; skinny. Cough so much, he fall down.... And so, when that superintendent say to me, "How old am I?" "What's my tribe?" "What name he's gonna give me?" I can't say nothin'! Karroo 'oo! No, sir! Can't even say, "Khaisoobitagwatoo! I don't know nothin'!" Cause you see why? I'm too dumb! Don't know nothin' yet. Can't [even] say, "My name...