<br><div class="gmail_quote">This is not a local issue per se, but given our community/University legacy (dis)regarding Native American/indigenous imagery and culture, I thought some might feel led to engage it. As I understand, they can use as many non-tribal voices speaking to the matter as they can get. Thanks for considering it....<br>
<br><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote">The Army is poised to demolish an 1859 farmhouse that once served as part of the Carlisle [PA] Indian Industrial School (1884-1920), an institution famous for its role as an Indian boarding school with the explicit goal of stripping indigenous children of their cultural ties and acculturating them into Euro-US culture ["kill the Indian, save the man"]. It was a significant phase of the trauma inflicted on Native Americans in pursuing our US "manifest destiny." The farmhouse also served as a Confederate station for/near the Gettysburg battle (1863) and housed African American "Buffalo Soldiers" (1920-1945) during the era of segregated armed forces--in other words it has considerable associations with some of US history's biggest "losers/casualties." It has some noteworthy architectural features, as well. <br>
<br>Its most significant association, though, involves its role as one of the last remnants of our Indian boarding school legacy, and is especially important for Native Americans seeking to come to terms with and understand the forces that shaped their fate as a people. The Army is trying to steamroll its demolition to make way for military housing units.<br>
<br>I attached some background material, a "protest letter" template, and the link to an online petition. <span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/u-s-army-war-college-public-affairs-officer-stop-the-demolition-of-the-historic-ciis-farmhouse" target="_blank">[https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/u-s-army-war-college-public-affairs-officer-stop-the-demolition-of-the-historic-ciis-farmhouse</a></span>] I also listed below some specific points that its Native American advocates list for its preservation, FYI. One of them shared that a showing of Euro-American interest will be pretty important, demonstrating it's not just indigenous voices/tribes that consider it significant and want it preserved. As far as I know it is still standing, though slated for demolition in September/October.<br>
<ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times","serif""> <span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">This site
not only represents the forced assimilation of Native children into mainstream
Euro-American culture, but it also stands as a place of memory for the descendents of those who endured the stripping away of their culture. It
is historically significant to the descendents of CIIS students.
</span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"> </span></span><br>
</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">The
farmhouse is architecturally sound.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>The
farmhouse is a historical site that has been documented in early CIIS
literature and through ongoing research. <br></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>The site
could remain as is for families of Carlisle Barracks or could be utilized as a
visitor’s center and museum for CIIS as there is nothing of the sort on the
actual grounds of the CIIS. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>It could
also potentially house visitors, guests, and researchers, host seminars and
lectures on the history of the CIIS. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>The site is significant for several reasons. It
Is part of the CIIS history and once these buildings are torn down, it becomes
easy for the public to completely forget the legacies these boarding schools
left behind for our Native people. It's one of the few buildings still standing
that was used by CIIS students. It was a part of a demonstration farm where
students learned agricultural skills. Students lived in the house and then went
on summer Outings to work for white families.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>No existing structures on site of CIIS where
students actually lived other than the athletic building</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>House had a schoolroom for students to study
agricultural skills – horticulture, stock raising, dairying, farm equipment,
etc. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>Only remaining CIIS building where students
attended classes</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>No museum dedicated to CIIS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>Neighbors are supportive of saving the home</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><span><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"></span></span>House depicted in original CIIS catalogues,
postcards</span></li></ul></blockquote>
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