NAVAJO INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS - 2023
Starting in 1819, the United States Government began operating a series of boarding schools across the nation that forcefully took Native American children from their families and tribes in an effort to assimilate them into “American” culture. With this form of genocide, the children were not allowed to speak their native languages, practice their traditional religions, or partake of anything deemed inappropriate. Many of these schools were operated under horrific conditions, where children were often tortured and even killed. Frightened and away from their families, an unknown number of children died in at the schools (officially about 500, but likely much higher). These schools continued to operate in this fashion in some places up until the 1960s. Between 1819 and 1969 there were approximately 408 school across 37 states, and it wasn’t until the passage of the 1978 that Native American parents gained the right to deny their children’s placement in off-reservation schools. The photographs in this series were taken at seven such schools located on the Navajo Nation (Naabeehó Bináhásdzo). From New Mexico the list includes the Beclabito Day School, Fort Wingate Boarding School, Nenahnezad Boarding School, Pueblo Pintado Boarding School, Shiprock Indian Boarding School; and from Arizona the Kinlichee Indian School and Tuba City Boarding School. Many of the buildings were first constructed while forced boarding was still occurring, and remained in use after the tribe gained more control over the education programs in the 1980s. Memories of the children, teachers, dorm parents, and administrators linger through the halls and rooms. Documenting these places was emotionally challenging, but ultimately rewarding and necessary. The photographs were taken between January and March of 2023 in association with a project lead by the Navajo Nation Heritage and Historic Preservation Department and United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Education. The historical documentation is being led by Dr. Chris Baker from Chronicle Heritage, with photographic services provided by Thomas Carr from AECOM. The gallery of images below represents ten shots from each school along with a few random candid photos. They are not organized or presented in any particular.
