‘The U.S. Indian Industrial Boarding Schools: Resultant Intergenerational Trauma & Healing Ways’

Noted Native American lecturer and artist Suzanne Cross will shine a light on the history of Indian boarding schools in the United States, with a focus on facilities in Michigan, at a Saturday morning program hosted by the Historical Society of Greater Lansing. Some of Cross’ ancestors were incarcerated at a boarding school in Mount Pleasant.

Michigan had three federally funded Indian boarding schools. The Mount Pleasant facility was established in 1892 and closed in 1934. Another, the Old St. Joseph Orphanage and School near Baraga, was in operation from 1860 until the 1950s. The third, located in Harbor Springs and run by an order of Catholic nuns, operated for more than 100 years.

The intent of the schools was to train Native children to fit into white culture, but it was a brutal experience for the children, who were often snatched from their homes.

Cross, a social work educator, has taught at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Arizona State University and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College. During her career, she held membership on the National Association of Social Workers’ health and aging committee and the Council on Social Work Education’s board of directors and Task Force on Native Americans in Social Work Education, receiving the Mit Joyner Gerontology Award from the national Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors for her work with American Indian elders.

Since her retirement, she has continued with research and lectures on Indian boarding schools, heart disease and the value of healing. Additionally, she continues to create Native American beadwork, shawls and skirts, having shown her work in 11 states, Canada and even Venice, Italy.