Haskell Indian Nations University

From 1884-1890, Haskell Indian Nations University was officially named the U.S. Indian Industrial Training School, an early government boarding school that removed children from their families and placed them in schools for training in domestic and farming skills. In 1884, the Indian Industrial Training School opened with three buildings and a few Native students, and enrollment increased to 400 students by the end of the first school year. At first, the school operated under a semi-military system in which students’ traditional clothing and personal items were taken, their hair was cut, and they had to march to class and church. Students were taught to speak English and were not allowed to speak their tribal language, talk to siblings, or practice their tribal customs and traditions. Classes were taught at an elementary level, while boys were taught tailoring, farming, wagon making, blacksmithing, harness making, and shoe making, and girls were taught homemaking skills such as cooking and sewing. Most of the food was produced on the Haskell farm, and students were expected to help grow, harvest, and preserve it.

Lawrence, Kansas · United States