The nation’s longest-running Indian boarding school turns 140 today. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the Chemawa Indian School in Salem held a birthday pow-wow event this weekend.
Originally started as a government-authorized initiative to assimilate native people, the school has weathered financial challenges, relocated campuses, and upheavals in both enrollment and staff.
In 2017, Oregon Public Broadcasting concluded a three-year investigation that found academic, health, and safety gaps, leading to reforms and more congressional oversight.
Today, Chemawa’s emphasis is on celebrating and preserving culture, and giving students the best preparation for success on and beyond its campus.
Several hundred people filled the Chemawa Indian School gym last Saturday for a day of dancing, singing, and drumming.
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