Tag: catholic

education, General History, Oregon indiansLeave a comment

Rector Responds to the Catholic Boarding School Proposal, 1862

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1862 the Catholic Church of the United States made a proposal to open boarding schools to serve all of the Indian reservations primarily served by their own Catholic Missionaries. This proposal would then have the church build boarding school facilities on the reservations under their ministry and then satisfy and unmet needs of the Indian bureau, to begin the formal education of native youth. Most tribes at reservations had treaties with education annuities, and yet the promised schools would normally only open for a few months when the money ran out. Education on the reservations was seen by Indian … Continue reading Rector Responds to the Catholic Boarding School Proposal, 1862

General History1 Comment

Catholic Education at Grand Ronde Reservation

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Federal government’s role regarding Indian people was to figure out what to do with them. Tribes were in the way of American expansion and, removal of the tribes to reservations was not enough, because as reservations increased in numbers, the amounts owed the tribes, collectively, increased. Because of this, the Federal government began to institute policies that would cause the eventual elimination of Native people, because once they were no longer culturally “Natives” they would no longer need federal funds to support them. This policy became called “civilizing Indians.” It was thought that before the Indians could become citizens, … Continue reading Catholic Education at Grand Ronde Reservation

colonization, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon indians2 Comments

General Howard Visits Grand Ronde, 1876

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1874, General Oliver Otis Howard, who had served in the Civil War was the Commander of the Department Columbia took command of any Indian conflicts in the region.  General Howard’s fame in the Northwest came from his command and actions during the Nez Perce War. In 1876 General  Howard visited the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation. He wrote a letter describing his visit and published it in the Chicago Advance Newspaper. The letter was republished in the Annals of the Catholic Indian Missions in America and the records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia Volume 17, in part … Continue reading General Howard Visits Grand Ronde, 1876

General History, Oregon indiansLeave a comment

Oregon Catholic Indian Education History

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Catholic Indian education program was initially supported by a policy decision by the U.S. Department of War in 1819. Then the USDOW was in charge of Indian affairs and they began a Congressionally approved “civilizing fund” of $10K under the below-stated goal, “Such associations or individuals who are already actually engaged in educating the Indians, and who may desire the cooperation of the government will report to the Department of War… In proportion to the means of the government, cooperation will be extended to such institutions as may be approved, as well in erecting their necessary buildings as in … Continue reading Oregon Catholic Indian Education History