[Peace] Fwd: Native American Historic Preservation/Justice Issue

[Gordon Oyer]

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....

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.
>
> 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.
>
> I attached some background material, a "protest letter" template, and the
> link to an online petition.
> [https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/u-s-army-war-college-public-affairs-officer-stop-the-demolition-of-the-historic-ciis-farmhouse<https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/u-s-army-war-college-public-affairs-officer-stop-the-demolition-of-the-historic-ciis-farmhouse>]
> 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.
>
>    - 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.
>    - The farmhouse is architecturally sound.
>    - The farmhouse is a historical site that has been documented in early
>    CIIS literature and through ongoing research.
>    - 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.
>    - It could also potentially house visitors, guests, and researchers,
>    host seminars and lectures on the history of the CIIS.
>    - 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.
>    - No existing structures on site of CIIS where students actually lived
>    other than the athletic building
>    - House had a schoolroom for students to study agricultural skills –
>    horticulture, stock raising, dairying, farm equipment, etc.
>    - Only remaining CIIS building where students attended classes
>    - No museum dedicated to CIIS
>    - Neighbors are supportive of saving the home
>    - House depicted in original CIIS catalogues, postcards
>
>
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