Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival

In Marker's essay "Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival", he explains the tragic fate of the Salish Indians in the Northwest United States.  Separated by the 49th parallel, the Salish Indians were divided into the United States and Canada and forbidden to cross over.  However, both countries decided to destroy the Salish culture and matriculate the Salish Indians into their own lives.  Both Canada and the United States took the children of the Indians and forced them into boarding schools.  In Canada, the children went to school with other Canadian children to try and pick up their habits and the "Canadian" culture.  If any of their old culture was seen, the children were severely reprimanded. This caused the Salish children to become ostracized by the other students and some ran away to the United States.  In the United States, boarding schools were also used, but it was only Salish children. However, they were still severely punished if any of their old Salish habits were being shown or if they were not accepting this new "American" way of life quickly enough.

Both countries went beyond their reign to wipe out their culture, yet between the two methods, the United States' boarding school was much more effective than those in Canada due to the reduced racism.  However, both were still wrong and should not have happened.  In a country where individuality is celebrated, we should encourage pride in one's culture instead of abolishing any trace of it.