St. Joseph's Indian School

This article is about the school in South Dakota, United States. For the school in Bangalore, India, see St. Joseph's Indian High School.
St. Joseph's Indian School
Location
Chamberlain, South Dakota, United States
Information
Religious affiliation(s) Catholic
Established 1927
Founder Henry Hogebach

St. Joseph's Indian School is an American Indian boarding school, located in Chamberlain, South Dakota, United States. It was founded in 1927 by Henry Hogebach, a Roman Catholic priest from Germany. The school is owned and operated by the Priests of the Sacred Heart, who are not Native Americans.

History

The school was founded as a Catholic mission school in 1927 by German Roman Catholics. It is owned and operated by the Priests of the Sacred Heart, non-Native Americans. As a boarding school, it provided dormitories for a range of Native American children, primarily from the Lakota and Sioux reservations on the Great Plains. The school was originally directed to assimilate Native American children to the majority United States culture, influenced by European traditions. They were encouraged (or forced) to speak English and to practice Catholicism.

In the 21st century, approximately 200 Native American children attend the residential school. Today students live in family-style group homes with other students.[1][2]

Also on the campus is Aktala Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, which has holdings and events to explore Plains Indian history and culture. It occupies a building converted from previous classroom use.

Fundraising

In the 2010s, St. Joseph's School has been investigated for several issues related to its fundraising practices. In 2013 the school failed to meet the give.org standards for charity accountability.[3][4]

In 2014 it was the subject of investigative reports by CNN and Indian Country Today.[1][2][5] The school sent out mass mailings featuring offers of made-in-China dreamcatchers and fictional, emotional letters from nonexistent students. These tactics have been called, "the worst of poverty porn."[1][2]

"A school run by non-Indians is raising a fortune off of racial stereotypes."[2]

In 2014 the school's attorney told Indian Country Today that they would "never, ever" send any more of the fictional letters.[5] But as of 2015, the school continues its aggressive direct mail campaign, sending tens of millions of pieces of junk mail a year.[5]

The school has been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for sending out a letter claiming they had insufficient funds to heat the school.[5] At the time of this claim, the school had millions of dollars free to spend.[5][3]

See also

Works about the school

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fitzpatrick, David (2014-11-17). "U.S. Indian school's fundraising letters sent to millions signed by fictitious kids". CNN Investigations. Retrieved 2015-03-30. "They are raising money in the name of Indians, using the worst of poverty porn of all Indian country to raise money on all our social ills" - Michael Roberts, president of the First Nations Development Institute
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cooper, Anderson (Anchor), with David Fitzpatrick and Drew Griffin (Reporters) (2014). 'Poverty porn' helps school get millions (Television news report). US: CNN Investigations. 3:48 in interview with Crow Creek Lakota Sioux vice chairman, Leonard Pease.
  3. 1 2 Cooper, Anderson (Anchor), with David Fitzpatrick and Drew Griffin (Reporters) (2014). 'Poverty porn' helps school get millions (Television news report). US: CNN Investigations.
  4. ↑ "Charity Review: St. Joseph's Indian School and Missions. Standards Not Met". give.org. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Fitzpatrick, David (2014-11-24). "St. Joseph's Indian School Has Learned a Lesson About Fundraising". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
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