Carlisle Indian Industrial School forced Native American children to assimilate

Carlisle Indian Industrial School forced Native American children to assimilate

　　Transcript¹

　　As part of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, Kirby Metoxen had heard stories about his grandparents being sent to a boarding school in Pennsylvania, designed to strip Native children of their culture.

　　A MARTINEZ, HOST:

　　Now to StoryCorps. Growing up as part of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, Kirby Metoxen heard stories about his grandparents being sent to a boarding school in Pennsylvania. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was one of hundreds of schools with forced assimilation programs designed to strip Native children of their culture. Parents who resisted could be imprisoned².

　　In 2017, Kirby visited the old school, now an Army base. He remembered that day with his friend, Father Rodger Patience.

　　KIRBY METOXEN: As we went through the gates, we asked, what remnants are left of the boarding school? They said, the cemetery³. So as we were walking through, I'm seeing the headstones of the children that passed here, imagining a child far from home, not knowing where they are, getting sick, wanting their mom and dad but being alone. If that was me, I'd - I wouldn't want to be alone. And I thought, if I can get these kids home, that's all I would need.

　　RODGER PATIENCE: Yeah. How long did the process take?

　　METOXEN: Two years, three years, at least - and I remember, we had been invited to come into the tent and view the remains⁴. Part of me wanted to run the other way. But I thought, out of respect for them children, I will come in. I recall taking a breath and then the emotions coming out like it was my own child. You know, we were able to track down family members of the children. But there's one orphan⁵, Ophelia Powless. And I said, you know, my grandmother was a Powless, so I will be claiming Ophelia as a relative.

　　PATIENCE: How do you feel after bringing them home?

　　METOXEN: I drive by our church, and I can see the headstone of Ophelia almost every day. It will probably be one of my proudest accomplishments⁶ in this lifetime.

　　MARTINEZ: That was Kirby Metoxen with Father Rodger Patience at StoryCorps. There are hundreds of graves at the Carlisle boarding school. Six of them belong to the families from the Oneida Nation. All are expected to return home. The U.S. Interior Department is investigating the abuse of Indigenous⁷ children at boarding schools. This conversation will be archived at the Library of Congress.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF CHRIS ZABRISKIE'S "THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR ON THE BOW OF THE KALEETAN")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

3 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

6 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。