Unseen Tears: The Native American Boarding School Experience in Western New York Part 1

Legacy of Native American Boarding Schools

The documentary examines the legacy of Native American boarding schools in Western New York and nearby communities. Speakers describe how Indigenous children were taken from their families under government policies intended to suppress Native identity and assimilate them into white society.

One commentator connects these policies to an earlier policy of extermination, describing the shift as “kill the Indian and save the man,” a phrase associated with General Pratt. Speakers say that the United States and Canada continued versions of these policies into the 1980s.

Survivors’ Experiences

Survivors recall being sent to the “Mush Hole” as young children, sometimes for years. They describe having their hair shaved, being separated from their siblings, and facing harsh discipline.

Native languages were forbidden. Children who spoke them could be punished, including by being shut away in a dark room. One survivor recalls refusing to speak English for two years as an act of resistance.

Some survivors say they accepted the school as normal when they were children, only later recognizing the harm and feeling anger or resentment.

Family Circumstances and Songs

The film challenges the idea that children were sent away because they were delinquent. Speakers point to varied family circumstances and question the judgment of the authorities who intervened.

Songs recalled in the documentary—including one about the killing of Native people and a boarding-school song—underscore the violence and humiliation surrounding these experiences.

Contributors

No individuals are identified by name in the subtitles. The contributors are unnamed survivors and commentators.