Boarding Schools

Assimilation policies also took the form of mandatory boarding schools, with devastating consequences that continue to reverberate today through out Indian Country. It is believed that the prevalence of Indian-on-Indian domestic and sexual violence in Native communities is rooted in the forced removal of Indian children from their homes and from their families and Tribes into religious and government-operated boarding schools.  I must add that some of the boarding schools were run by the military, for instance the Fort Totten Boarding School in North Dakota. This boarding school had grey nuns from Canada that were established on site and housed children from the age of five, forcibly taken from their families. The school it self is still standing today. Under the school is dirt sellers with bars where children were placed in solitary confinement.  Twenty inch paths from dorm to classrooms were patrolled by military on horseback carrying crops to keep children on the beaten path. Apache women had their garments adapted  (skirts) made wide and large, to attempt to hide their children from agents.

From 1879 through the 1950s,  more that 300 boarding schools across the county taught lessons of self hate, domestic and sexual abuse, gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms to Native children forced or coerced into attending the schools.

Children attending the boarding schools were not permitted to see their families, speak their own language, or follow their cultural practices or traditional religion, the children were expected to  stay for a minimum of four years.

It is believed thst the prevalence of Indian-on-Indian domestic and sexual assault in Native communities is rooted in the forced removal of Indian from their homes and from their families and tribes and into religious snd government-operated boarding schools. -Felix S. Cohen

Felix Solomon Cohen (July 3, 1907 – October 19, 1953) was a lawyer and scholar who made a lasting mark on legal philosophy and fundamentally shaped federal Indian law and policy.

Cohen was the drafter of the centerpiece legislation of this era, the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. In 1939 he became Chief of the Indian Law Survey, an effort to compile the federal laws and treaties regarding American Indians. The resulting book, published in 1941 as The Handbook of Federal Indian Law.

The trauma suffered from boarding school survivors is expressed today in substance abuse,  suicide, domestic violence,  pedophelia, sexual assault, and being passed on to further generations.

Because Knowledge is Power

If you need information on domestic violence, step by step procedures on filing restraining orders or injunctions or need forms to print out for your State just click on WomensLaw.org. under the blogroll.

Sensitivity To Victim Needs

As proffessional, it is our responsibility to suspend judgement regardless of the circimstance. Treat each victim with respect and acknowledge the courage and strengths they have exhibited for reporting and seeking our services.

Sexual assault victims experience varying degrees of psychological trauma. An individual’s perception of how a sexual assault victim should look, dress or act, and the way those perceptions are conveyed can have significant effect upon the victim’s recovery process in the weeks and months following the crime. Each person has his or her method of coping with sudden stress. When severly traumatized, victims can appear calm, indifferent, submissive, angry, or even uncooperative and hostile toward those who are trying to help. Misinterpretations of a victim’s reaction to their assault may lead to further trauma and hinder the interview, evidence collection or legal proceedings.

Listed below are some of the feelings that may be felt by victims:

• Fear of offender
• Fear of what family and friends might think
• Fear of others finding out
• Guilt and feelings that she or he is responsible for the assault
• Sense of vulnerability and general fear of people
• Loss of control over her or his own life
• Embarrassment
• Anxiety
• Concern for the offender’s well being, especially in cases of acquaintance or spousal rape
• Shame-loss of self respect
• Stupidity or foolishness
• Anger
• Confusion
• Sexual Assault Crisis line (920) 436 8899 24 hours

Witnessing the violence

Children and Domestic Violence

A Few Facts…

About Witnessing the violence

Over 3 million children are at risk of exposure to parental violence each year.
(Carlson, B.E. . “Children’s Observations of Interparental Violence” in Edwards, A.R. (ed.). Battered Women and Their Families. New York: Springer. pp. 147-167. 1984. )

The majority of the children from violent homes observe the violence inflicted by their fathers upon their mothers; most research suggests as many as 90 percent of children from violent homes witness their fathers battering their mothers
(Pagelow, 1990; Walker, 1984)
About the Effects of Witnessing Violence

Children who witness violence at home display emotional and behavioral disturbances as diverse as withdrawal, low self-esteem, nightmares, self-blame and aggression against peers, family members and property.
(Peled, Inat, Jaffe, Peter G. & Edleson, Jeffrey L. (Eds.) Ending the Cycle of Violence: Community Responses to Children of Battered Women. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, 1995)

A comparison of delinquent and nondelinquent youth found that a history of family violence or abuse is the most significant difference between the two groups.
(Miller, G. “Violence By and Against America’s Children,” Journal of Juvenile Justice Digest, XVII(12) p.6. 1989)

In comparing children not exposed to violence as contrasted to children who witness violence and children who both witness and are abused, data suggest that the latter two groups are most comparable and have heightened behavioral and emotional distress as compared to the former
(Hughes et al., 1989).

Boys become aggressive, fighting with siblings and schoolmates and having temper tantrums. Girls are more likely to become passive, clinging, and withdrawn.
(Hilberman and Munson, 1977-78)

Wisconsin Help Lines

Oakwood Haven (LCO)

Domestic & Sexual Abuse Shelter

(715) 634-9360

Crisis Line

1-877-552-7474

Sawyer County Sexual Assault Advocate

Hayward WI

(715) 638-3451

CASDA Crisis Line Abuse Center

1-800-649-2921

Time Our Family Abuse

1-800-924-0556

Ladysmith, WI

(715) 532-7089

New Day Shelter

1-800-924-4132

Ashland

(715) 682-9565

Native American

1-800-236-7660

WI State Wide Shelter

(715) 588-7660

WI Coalition Against Domestic Violence

(608) 255-0539

WI Coalition Against Sexual Assault

(608) 257-1516

Stevens Point

1-800-472-3377

River Falls

1-800-338-2882

Monroe

1-800-836-9788

Milltown

1-800-261-7233

Bolton Refuge/Eau Claire

1-800-252-4357

Chippewa Falls

1-800-400-7020

People Against Violence/Beaver Dam

1-800-775-3785

Hopehouse

1-800-584-6794

 

 

 

Crisis Line

At any time of the day or night we have a crisis line just dial

1 (800) 236-7660.

You can also call (715) 588-7660

During normal business hours.

Some one is always here for you 24-7