When I was younger, my great-grandmother shared with me her experiences at an Oklahoma boarding school and the harsh treatment she and others endured. Her parents were forced to send her there, and she was compelled to learn the “Christian ways.” If she resisted, the punishments would be severe, akin to those in prisons of the time. Abuse was a daily occurrence. While she managed to survive, many of her friends did not. The school authorities made sure that the language of her great-grandmother, who had walked the Trail of Tears, was beaten out of her. The horrific lessons she had to endure in grade school were truly appalling.
She told me these stories long before the internet existed. For a long time, I only knew of the tales my family shared with me. Recently, I discovered that her stories were not unique. In Canada, there is a movement to remember the lost souls of those schools. Orange Shirt Day, held annually on September 30th, raises awareness about the impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities and honors the survivors of these institutions.
I hope this captures the essence of your great-grandmother’s story while making it clearer and more impactful.