University of Iowa Professor Launches Nationwide Project to Return Documents to Native American Boarding School Survivors

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As part of a nationwide effort, a University of Iowa professor is poised to launch a project that aims to return documents from the National Archives to survivors of Native American boarding schools. The project, called Project Return, was founded by Professor Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz and will officially launch in October, allowing survivors to request to have their records returned free of charge. This effort follows a long history of abuse and mistreatment of Native American children at these schools, where at least 973 children died and many more suffered physical and emotional trauma.

Key Takeaways:

  • Project Return is a nationwide project launched by University of Iowa Professor Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz to return documents to Native American boarding school survivors.
  • The project will officially launch in October, allowing survivors to request to have their records returned free of charge.
  • The project is part of an effort to address the historical trauma inflicted on Native American children at boarding schools, where at least 973 children died and many more suffered abuse.
  • The University of Iowa has been a partner in this effort, with Schuettpelz having recently received a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund the project.
  • The project aims to return documents, including report cards, photographs, and letters, that have been stored in the National Archives.
  • These documents will provide closure and peace to the survivors, who often are unaware that records of their time in boarding schools exist.
  • The project will eventually expand to return records to families and tribes of the boarding school survivors who have passed.
  • The University of Iowa's involvement in the project is a testament to the institution's commitment to addressing the historical trauma inflicted on Native American communities.

Statistics:

  • At least 973 children died while attending Native American boarding schools.
  • The U.S. Department of the Interior deemed 526 Native American boarding schools as federally funded.
  • The National Archives has stored documents from these schools, including report cards, photographs, and letters.
  • Project Return will allow survivors to request to have their records returned free of charge.
  • The project is expected to provide closure and peace to survivors who often are unaware of the existence of these records.

Sources:

  • Schuettpelz, Carrie Lowry. "Project Return." University of Iowa, n.d.
  • Maxwell, Joe. "At last, Native American boarding school survivors have one last chance to claim their records." Interview by Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz.
  • Buffalo, Johnathan. "Interview with Native News Online." Native News Online, 23 Feb. 2023.
  • Schuettpelz, Carrie Lowry. "Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant." University of Iowa, 2023.