Crescent Street Bridge, the bridge that separates the Flandreau Indian School from the township of Flandreau, South Dakota is a vivid physical metaphor for the racism that has existed here for more than a century. Photo courtesy Bridge Flandreau / Facebook
Racist treatment of Flandreau Indian School students addressed
‘Bridge Flandreau’ Study Circles convene at Royal River Casino
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Editor
www.nsweekly.com FLANDREAU –– For over a century, more than just a bridge has separated non-Indian people living in the township of Flandreau, S.D. and Indian students and residents of the Flandreau Indian School. Many American Indians icons attended Flandreau Indian School, one of the oldest Indian boarding schools in the United States, which was founded in 1890 by Richard F. Pettigrew. Among those who attended F.I.S. were American Indian activist, entertainer and actor Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman, American Indian Movement Leader Dennis Banks, and one of the first American Indian physicians and author Charles “Ohiyesa” Eastman, who attended to the wounded after the Wounded Knee Massacre. Emily Pieper grew up on the Flandreau Indian School campus as the daughter of a Flandreau Indian School Chaplain. “My brothers and I grew up on campus. The kids at the school were like a second family to us. If my dad wasn’t home he was with his ‘other kids,’” she said and had always felt comfortable being on campus and working with the kids and would even “hang out in the dorms.”
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: Racist treatment of Flandreau Indian School students addressed (Ernestine Chasing Hawk can be reached at editor@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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