Chamberlain Indian School facts for kids

Chamberlain Indian School was a special kind of school for Native American children. It was located in Chamberlain, South Dakota, right next to the Missouri River.

The United States government opened this school in 1898. It was one of many boarding schools built far away from Native American reservations. The school was run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and closed in 1908.

After it closed, the government gave the buildings to the Catholic Church. They used it as a college called Columbus College. Later, the college moved to another city and then closed completely.

In 1927, a Catholic group called the Priests of the Sacred Heart bought the old school property. They started a new private school there called St. Joseph's Indian School. This school is still open today and mainly helps Lakota students.

What Was the Chamberlain Indian School?

The Chamberlain Indian School opened in 1898. It was one of about 25 schools the government set up in the Plains region. The main goal of these schools was to teach Native American children to live like white Americans.

At these schools, children were often not allowed to speak their native languages. They also couldn't practice their traditional religions. They were given new Christian names and had their hair cut short. They also had to wear European-style clothes.

The school was in a quiet, isolated area. It was supposed to have a farm to grow food and raise animals for the students. But the land wasn't very good for farming, so it couldn't produce enough food.

Students at the school often got sick. Many caught diseases that spread easily. In 1908, the school had 20 teachers and 185 students.

Why Did the School Close?

The Chamberlain Indian School closed in 1909. Students who had come from places like Crow Creek Indian Reservation and Lower Brule Indian Reservation were moved. They went to another boarding school called the Rapid City Indian School.

After the school closed, the government decided to give the buildings to the Catholic Church. A bishop named Thomas O'Gorman wanted to start a college there for Catholic boys. This college was named Columbus College. It was run by a group called the Clerics of St. Viator until 1921.

Then, Columbus College moved to a new place in Sioux Falls. The old Chamberlain school buildings were empty again for a few years.

What Happened to the Buildings Next?

In 1927, the government sold the old Chamberlain school buildings and land. The buyers were the Priests of the Sacred Heart. This Catholic group is based in Wisconsin.

They used the property to start St. Joseph's Indian School. This school is still running today. It provides a home and education for boarding students, mostly from the Lakota tribe.

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