301: Impact of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools on Present-Day Child-Rearing
1:45-2:45pm
General Track 1
Ki Nswe’-Ki Nye;w
Mtg Rooms 3&4
This presentation will offer a brief history of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, an overview of the impact on the lives of children who attended them, and an exploration of the subsequent child-rearing skills present in today’s families. We will discuss changes that can be made in child-rearing to prevent maltreatment, and share recommendations for parenting styles that can better address issues of concern. Suzanne L. Cross will close the session with a reading that speaks to the experience of being raised by a Mt. Pleasant Industrial Boarding School survivor.
We all want our children to have healthy, loving relationships and to become wonderful parents as they reach adulthood. However, some of our people have perpetuated the harmful child-rearing practices found in U.S. Indian Boarding Schools.
This learned behavior needs to be addressed to allow for a more positive style of child-rearing that prevents the continuation of generational maltreatment.
Lead By:
Suzanne L. Cross (Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan), Associate Professor emeritus - MSU, Native American Artist and Private Consultant
Dr. Cross has taught at MSU, CMU, ASU, and The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College. During her career, she has served on the CSWE Board of Directors and the CSWE Native American Indian Task Force, and received the Mit Joyner Gerontology Award from the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors for her work with American Indian Elders. Most recently, she has completed her term on the NASW Health & Aging Committee.
During her tenure at MSU, she organized faculty, staff, students, and Native American communities to develop the Michigan Indian Day Event (now in its 26th year). Since her retirement, she continues with research and lectures on U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, Historical Trauma, Child Welfare, Heart Disease, and Healing.
Additionally, she continues her Native American beadwork and shawl-making, which has been shown/sold in 11 states and Canada, and has been invited to a show in Venice, Italy.