An exploration of the decline of the Tsalagi language due to the remvoal of Cherokee children from their native speaking homes. Inculdes discussion of the Missionaries, Henry Richard Pratt and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Sequoyah and His Syllabary and the Effects and Decline in Language and the Solutions.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Missionaries and “Civilisation”
Henry Richard Pratt and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School
Sequoyah and His Syllabary
Effects and Decline in Language and the Solutions
Research Objectives and Themes
This project dossier examines the historical trajectory of the Cherokee Nation, focusing on the systemic erosion of their culture and language through colonization, forced assimilation, and the impact of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. It specifically investigates the struggle for cultural preservation in the face of aggressive assimilation policies and the paradox presented by the development of the Cherokee syllabary.
- The historical encroachment upon Cherokee territory and the impact of the Indian Removal Act.
- The philosophy of “civilisation” and its application through missionary schools and mandatory assimilation.
- The role of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and its founder, Henry Richard Pratt, in the cultural eradication of Native American children.
- The invention of the Cherokee syllabary by Sequoyah as a pivotal tool for cultural and linguistic survival.
- Contemporary efforts by the Cherokee Nation to revitalize and preserve the Tsalagi language through education and community initiatives.
Excerpt from the Publication
Henry Richard Pratt and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School
The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was founded by Henry R. Pratt on November 1st, 1879. (Nelson, 2007, pB12) Pratt’s military experience provided him with the model on which he chose to base his educational establishments. (Pratt had also opened a similar institute at Fort Marion.) He structured the schools much like he had structured a prison school Pratt had created years before, for Indian prisoners of war, in Florida. His philosophy on these structures was that unyielding order was the best option and these structures were used in many other Indian boarding schools. Children as young as the age of five were taken away from their families and placed in the intense disciplinary environment that was believed to be necessary. Punishment was frequent in Carlisle, for displaying any Native American habits. (Pember, 2007) The children were given “proper” clothes and the boys’ hair was cut. (Centralpa.org)
Children began English lessons almost immediately after arrival and were forced to select Anglo names to replace their Indian ones. The destruction of their native languages was one of Pratt’s main objectives because he believed that “civilisation” lay in the language. Once they had learned English, they would be open to the new (contemporary American) culture. (Centralpa.org) Pratt described his mission as “...Kill the Indian and save the man...” (Britannica Encyclopedia Online)
The punishments were sometimes severe if the children spoke in their native tongues, even in private. They could be beaten, have their mouths scrubbed out with lye soap or be forced to forfeit meals. (Centralpa.org) There is a cemetery which holds 186 graves of students that died while attending Carlisle. (Witte & Mero, 2008, p401)
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a historical overview of the pressures exerted upon the Cherokee Nation by early settlers and the ensuing conflicts during the American Revolution.
The Missionaries and “Civilisation”: Examines how the US government and missionaries used the term "civilised" to justify the assimilation of Native Americans and the eventual passage of the Indian Removal Act.
Henry Richard Pratt and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School: Discusses the military-style boarding school system implemented by Pratt, which sought to eradicate Native American languages and cultures through forced assimilation.
Sequoyah and His Syllabary: Details the invention of the Cherokee writing system, highlighting its role as a paradoxical tool for cultural preservation against the backdrop of systemic erasure.
Effects and Decline in Language and the Solutions: Documents the long-term impact of acculturation policies on Cherokee fluency and outlines modern efforts to revitalize the Tsalagi language through education and institutional support.
Keywords
Cherokee Nation, Tsalagi, Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Henry Richard Pratt, Sequoyah, Assimilation, Cultural Genocide, Trail of Tears, Language Revitalization, Indigenous Education, Colonization, Native American History, Linguistic Survival, Boarding Schools, Acculturation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this dossier?
The document focuses on the history of the Cherokee Nation, specifically analyzing the impact of colonial policies and the residential school system on their language and culture.
What are the core themes explored in this work?
Central themes include forced cultural assimilation, the historical role of mission schools, the invention of the Cherokee syllabary, and contemporary language preservation efforts.
What is the central research question or goal?
The goal is to understand the mechanisms used by the US government to force cultural assimilation on the Cherokee and how the community has worked to counter these effects to preserve their unique identity.
What scientific or historical method is applied?
The author employs a historical research approach, utilizing primary and secondary sources, government documents, and scholarly analyses to reconstruct the impact of 19th and 20th-century policies.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body addresses the Cherokee territorial loss, the "civilizing" mission of the federal government, the brutal methods of the Carlisle school, and the linguistic resistance led by Sequoyah.
Which keywords characterize this dossier?
Key terms include Cherokee Nation, Tsalagi, assimilation, cultural genocide, and language revitalization.
What was Henry Richard Pratt’s specific philosophy regarding Indian education?
Pratt’s philosophy, summarized as "Kill the Indian and save the man," relied on military-style discipline and the total eradication of Native customs to force assimilation into American society.
How did the invention of the Cherokee syllabary change the outlook for the nation?
The syllabary provided a tangible medium for the Tsalagi language to survive, allowing for the creation of bilingual media and providing a foundation for modern language revitalization programs.
- Quote paper
- Rhianmôr Thomas (Author), 2009, How the Removal of Cherokee Children from Tsalagi Speaking Homes Led to a Decline in the Tsalagi Language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/208802
