Amskapi Pikuni: The Blackfeet People

4. Schooling

four Schooling Formal schooling has been a divisive issue on the Blackfeet Reservation. “Education,” meaning schooling, was the instrument grasped by Anglo missionaries and their associates the United States and Canadian bureaus of Indian Affairs. Amskapi Pikuni attended U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs schools on Cut Bank Creek near Browning; at Fort Shaw, near Cascade, Montana, Chemawa in Oregon, Genoa in Nebraska, Haskell in Lawrence, Kansas, and Carlisle in Pennsylvania; Catholic Holy Family Mission on the reservation and at St. Ignatius to the west and St. Peter’s Missions and Robare south of it; and public schools in communities near the reservation such as Valier and Cut Bank. John Collier’s New Deal policy reforms promoted day schools on the reservations with some curriculum materials in the Indian language, developed for Navajo and Lakota children but not yet implemented elsewhere before cut short by World War II priorities. After the war, integration of Indian children into public schools neighboring reservations was pushed, both in the United States and Canada, as means to assimilate them into Anglo society—a goal no different than the 19th-century aim, but less expensive than boarding schools. Finally, the mid-1970s Indian Self-Determination legislation began a shift to Indian control of Indian education. In 1939, Agnes Chief All Over described entering boarding school on the reservation; it must have been the B.I.A. Willow Creek school, opened 1892, and she would have been about twelve: School. First time sat at table with utensils. Didn’t know how to dish out or eat. Watched others and followed them and imitated them. Scared of everything, even the school building. Window high up and [I] asked how they go out—told that one climbed a ladder (steps). Dinner was meat, gravy and potatoes. Through, got up to walk out. One of the white waitresses came over and 195 196 AMSKAPI PIKUNI pulled out my chair and told me, “Sit down.” [I] Didn’t know English. Didn’t understand. Other child explained—not to walk out until the others did. Bell rang—[I] imitated others—pushed chairs under table. Bell rang again—[we] walked out of doors. [I] Told friend ‘”Want to go to toilet.” There’s little house— we’ll go to the back of it. Done several times before matron found out. Asked all the children who did it. [I] told—Matron took us to privies. Pick up dress, unbutton pants (first I had ever worn), sit on hole. Afraid to sit on hole. Afraid I’ll go through and told other girl to hold my hands tight. Girl buttoned my pants, and I did same for other girl. Matron stood and laughed at us. Kept talking, but we didn’t understand her English. Matron talked to older girls to tell them not to go outside again and not to be scared of holes—they can’t break. Every few minutes—I wanted to go. Everyone acted strange and felt guilty. Boarding school—we went in last of October, stayed until June. About four or five miles from home. [Agnes’ family, Yellow Wolf and his three wives including Agnes’ mother Insima, English name Cecile Sanderville, settled on Willow Creek three miles from Browning.] Grandmother came up every Friday. Mother came up every two or three weeks. Didn’t like to come [because] I’d cry to go home with them. First part of the year [they] didn’t come often till I got used to the school. Grandmother would bring dried prunes and Pimm crackers. Mother brought nuts, candies, oranges, cookies. [In school, the students] All lined up and marched into hall, at about eight o’clock. Few stood back afraid of ladder (steps). Looks high and dangerous. Don’t want to go up. Light up there and next place dark—ghosts up there. Two of the oldest girls carried them pick-back. First time [I] slept on spring bed—every time [I] moved, bed would rock. [I was] Scared something [was] under bed. First time ever [I] had slept alone. Other girl scared and crying. Finally [we] got in bed together. Next morning [we] got up about six o’clock. Someone woke me up—[I] didn’t remember where I was. Woke other up. Walked around easy—afraid floor would break through. Every time we stepped on floor, it creaked, and we got scared. Walk out to hall— backed up—scared. Rest of girls tell us to walk down. [We] Refused . Finally [we...