Yufna Soldier Wolf, Northern Arapaho, displays photos of children who were sent to Carlisle. Photo by Vi Waln
Army Promises Return of Remains
By Vi Waln
Lakota Country Times Correspondent
www.lakotacountrytimes.com SD/NE STATELINE – A consultation between several tribes and the Department of Defense resulted in a promise to financially support the disinterment of the remains of tribal children. “We want to work with all of you to bring these children home,” stated Justin Buller, an Army Attorney. He was referred to several tribal children who are buried in a cemetery in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. “The Army is committed to helping with the costs of disinterment because that’s our responsibility. Buller also told tribal officials that the Army intends “to make sure your children are returned to where they came from, we want to work with each family to make sure that happens.” Children from several tribes were sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1879-1918. Many children died within the first 2 years they were at the school. Officials attributed their deaths to illnesses and sent word to families that the bodies would be buried in a nearby cemetery. Over the years, the cemetery was reportedly moved twice in order to make room for other facilities on what is an active military compound, site of an Army War College.
Rachel Janis and Sydney Horse Looking were part of the Sicangu Lakota Youth Council who made the trip to the cemetery at Carlisle last summer. Photo by Vi Waln
“Today we cannot imagine sending a 6-year-old child to a different part of the country, not knowing if they will come home,” stated Russell Eagle Bear, Rosebud’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. “Imagine a mother or father going into the spirit world not knowing where their child is. That’s called historical grief.” Lakota students from Rosebud visited the cemetery last summer. They offered prayers for the children buried there. They also placed sage and candy on each grave. Their experience at the cemetery affected them all very deeply. “My heart hurt to see all those kids buried there,” stated Iwoblu Big Crow.
Department of Army officials Justin Buller (Associate Deputy General Counsel/Spokesperson), Kathleen McLaughlin (Deputy Federal Preservation Officer) and Dr. Michael Trimble (Supervisory Archaeologist) listened to several tribal citizens speak about the children buried in a cemetery at the Carlisle War College. Photo by Vi Waln
The students decided the remains of the children buried at Carlisle needed to be returned to their homelands in order for the spirits of the deceased to move on. Officials from several tribes traveled to Rosebud to consult with the Department of Defense representatives last week. “I often wonder what it would be like to be away from family,” Sydney Horse Looking told the gathering. “I think of these kids as my friends, I want to bring them home.” “These kids carried sacred pipes and sacred bundles,” stated Yufna Soldier Wolf, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Northern Arapaho. “We are here negotiating something that is inherent. . .it should be a basic human right to get our children back.”
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Over 10,000 tribal students from nearly 150 tribes in America attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School while it was in operation. Nearly 200 students died while attending the school and are buried in the cemetery. “There’s kids over there that never got to come home,” Asia Black Bull said. “If we were to bring back their spirits, it would bring a lot of healing.” Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
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