Question

What did you learn about American history from reading about Zitkala-Sa’s experience that you didn’t already know? What surprised you about her story?

Answer 1

Zitkala-Sa, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a Native American writer, musician, and activist who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She wrote about her experiences growing up on the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota and later attending a boarding school for Native American children.

From Zitkala-Sa's writings, we can learn about the harsh realities faced by Native American children in these boarding schools. She described the forced assimilation policies implemented by the U.S. government at the time, which aimed to erase Native American culture, language, and traditions.

Zitkala-Sa's story sheds light on the challenges and cultural suppression faced by Native Americans during a significant period in American history. It reveals the struggle for identity and the resilience of indigenous peoples in the face of colonization and assimilation efforts.

While I cannot be surprised by her story, it is often surprising to learn about the extent of the cultural suppression that Native American children experienced in these schools. Many students were forbidden from speaking their native languages and practicing their cultural traditions. This deliberate erasure of Native American identity is a painful part of American history that is important to acknowledge and understand.

Answer 2

Zitkala-Ša was a Native American writer and activist who wrote about her experiences as a member of the Sioux tribe. She attended a government-run boarding school that aimed to assimilate Native American children into white American culture. Through her writing, Zitkala-Ša revealed the harsh treatment that Native American children endured at these boarding schools, including being forced to cut their hair, abandon their language and culture, and endure physical and emotional abuse. Zitkala-Ša's experiences shed light on the long history of mistreatment and oppression of Native Americans in the United States.