It wasn't until recently that I had a chance to talk again with an elderly lady I know who is an Indian. She started telling me about her childhood memories and how at a young age her father died in a cattle truck accident. Sometime after her father's death, she was sent to a boarding school.
Prior to attending what is known as Chilocco, she went to a public school where there were very few Indians. According to her, she was the only Indian in her class, which was not always an easy thing to endure. This is probably another reason why she ended up in the boarding school, Chilocco.
Her memories of Chilocco, while some may be harsh, she has chosen to not look back at them as being bad or painful. In her eyes, those years hold some great stories and experiences.
I spent a good deal of time in Oklahoma as a child and in later years, so the history of the school is of interest to me. Also, some of my relatives still live in the state, but they are not Indians.
Maybe some of you might enjoy reading about the history. I'm sure there are some people who attended the school that don't cherish the memories. Based on what I've read, it wasn't always considered to be a good school to attend. Hopefully, the Indian tribes will get all the buildings refurbished as well as the cemetery and other areas. These historical places need to be preserved instead of just written about in books and online articles.
Chilocco Indian School REVISITED | Abandoned Oklahoma
http://www.chilocco.org/
Prior to attending what is known as Chilocco, she went to a public school where there were very few Indians. According to her, she was the only Indian in her class, which was not always an easy thing to endure. This is probably another reason why she ended up in the boarding school, Chilocco.
Her memories of Chilocco, while some may be harsh, she has chosen to not look back at them as being bad or painful. In her eyes, those years hold some great stories and experiences.
I spent a good deal of time in Oklahoma as a child and in later years, so the history of the school is of interest to me. Also, some of my relatives still live in the state, but they are not Indians.
Maybe some of you might enjoy reading about the history. I'm sure there are some people who attended the school that don't cherish the memories. Based on what I've read, it wasn't always considered to be a good school to attend. Hopefully, the Indian tribes will get all the buildings refurbished as well as the cemetery and other areas. These historical places need to be preserved instead of just written about in books and online articles.
Chilocco Indian School REVISITED | Abandoned Oklahoma
http://www.chilocco.org/