The Historical Society of Greater Lansing is hosting a program on American Indian Boarding Schools 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 19 at the Rogers Carrier Home on the campus of Lansing Community College, 528 N. Capitol, Lansing.
Noted Native American lecturer and indigenous artist Dr. Suzanne Cross will shine light on the history of the American Indian Boarding School program in the United States with a focus on the Mt. Pleasant Indian School and Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs. Cross is a descendant of a family that was incarcerated at the Mt. Pleasant School.
Michigan had three federally funded Indian Boarding Schools; one in Mt. Pleasant which opened in 1892 and closed in 1932. Another, Holy Childhood, located in Harbor Springs and administered by an order of Catholic Nuns operated for more than 100 years. The other, The Old St. Joseph Orphanage and School in Baraga was in operation from 1880 until the 1950s.
The intent of Schools was to train Native Children to fit into the white culture, but the schools were a brutal experience for the children who were often snatched from their homes.
Dr. Suzanne Cross has taught at MSU, Central Michigan University, Arizona State University, and The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College. During her career she has held membership in the CSWE Board of Directors, Native American Indian Task Force, and received the Mit Joyner Gerontology Award from the National Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors for her work with American Indian Elders. She served on the NASW Health & Aging Committee and published an article, "U.S. Indian Industrial Boarding Schools: Trauma Impact on American Indian/Alaskan Native Elders and Their Families.
During her tenure at MSU, she organized faculty, staff, students, and Native American communities to develop the Michigan Indian Day Event, (now in its 29th year). Since her retirement, she has continued with research topics and lectures on the U.S. Indian Boarding School Historical Trauma, Heart Disease, and The Value of Healing.
Additionally, she continues her creation of Native American beadwork, shawl, and skirt-making with shows in 11 States, Canada, and invited to show two shawls in Venus, Italy.
