A search is currently underway at Fort Simcoe Historical State Park in White Swan, Washington, to locate the remains of children who may have died while attending a former Indian boarding school on the site. This investigation is part of a broader effort to uncover and acknowledge the dark history of Indian boarding schools in the United States, as reported by KING 5 News.
A Historical Site with a Hidden Past
Fort Simcoe, known for being one of the few remaining pre-Civil War forts, is a popular historical site where visitors can tour officers’ homes and other structures, including a jail. However, the park’s official records and markers have largely overlooked its history as an Indian boarding school that operated for more than 60 years. Jon Shellenberger, a member of the Yakama Nation and the state archaeologist, is determined to change that.
Uncovering the Truth
Using ground-penetrating radar, Shellenberger and his team are meticulously searching for anomalies that could indicate the presence of buried remains. Speaking to Drew Mikkelsen of KING 5 News, Shellenberger emphasized the importance of recognizing the atrocities that occurred at the site. “We knew that there was abuse of the children, and potentially even death as a result,” he said.
The Boarding School System
Shellenberger believes that hundreds of children were sent to Fort Simcoe during its operation as a boarding school, a system aimed at forcibly assimilating Native American children into white culture. The children were stripped of their native languages, traditions, and identities in a brutal process encapsulated by the mantra “kill the Indian, save the man.”
The Ongoing Search
Despite extensive efforts involving volunteers, college students, and cadaver dogs, the search has yet to confirm any remains. However, Shellenberger remains confident. “We’re at a point where we need to recognize that there’s been bad stuff here, that there’s been a bad history,” he told Mikkelsen.
The Impact on the Yakama Nation
Jerry Meninick, an elder of the Yakama Nation, whose great-grandfather signed the 1855 treaty with the U.S. and whose father and uncles attended the school, spoke about the lasting trauma inflicted by these institutions. “The first thing they did was cut their hair,” Meninick recounted. He emphasized that the trauma suffered by those children still impacts their descendants today, but he also noted the resilience of their culture. “Every day when I braid my hair, it is uniting my body, heart, and soul,” he said.
Hope for Recognition
Meninick, along with Shellenberger, hopes that the park will formally recognize the history of the boarding school. “I always have to remind the United States and Washington State that we’re still here,” he asserted.
Motivated by Discoveries in Canada
The search at Fort Simcoe was motivated by the discovery of mass graves at former boarding school sites in Canada in 2021. Shellenberger, driven by a commitment to uncovering the truth, believes that many of the problems faced by Native American communities today can be traced back to the abuses at these schools. “I’ve always been one to not shy away from the truth, as brutal as it can be, especially when it comes to history,” he said.
A Call for Recognition and Education
Shellenberger and Meninick call for the federal and state governments to acknowledge and teach about the tragic history of these boarding schools to ensure such atrocities are neither forgotten nor repeated. “It makes a mark on your brain and your thinking,” Meninick said, “and it was just something I can’t walk away from.”
“Beyond Cruel”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “What the federal government did to those native families is beyond cruel”
Another commenter added: “I want to see our schools teach all the history not just what they want us to know, thank you for doing this.”
One person said: “Not cool! Not cool to strip a person of them selves, of who they are. How wonderful of this man to come along years later into the future to search!”
Uncovering a Hidden Chapter
The ongoing search at Fort Simcoe Historical State Park is a crucial step in uncovering a hidden chapter of American history. It serves as a reminder of the resilience of Native American communities and the importance of acknowledging and learning from past injustices. The efforts of Shellenberger, Meninick, and others highlight the need for continued investigation, recognition, and education about the dark history of Indian boarding schools in the United States.
Better Integration
What are your thoughts? How can the history of Indian boarding schools be better integrated into public education? What steps should be taken to ensure the proper recognition and commemoration of sites like Fort Simcoe? How can current policies be influenced by the recognition of historical injustices towards Native American communities?
Watch the entire video on KING 5 Seattle’s YouTube channel for more information here.
