Historical Context

The European-Americans and the Navajos have had a troubled history with each other since the early 1800’s when the Europeans conquered the Navajos’ land and forced them out of their sacred territory.  This forceful removal took four years and removed more than 8,500 people. This time in history is now remembered as “The Long Walk”. Eventually, the Natives signed a treaty allowing them back into part of their homeland.  In return, the US government took over education duties and they created schools that the Navajo children had to attend. In some ways, this could be interpreted as breaking down cultural barriers which many saw as positive.  However, the Navajo were forced to give up their cultural identity and their traditions. These schools taught the Navajo children that their way of life was wrong. They forced them to take English names, made them practice Christianity, forbade the use of their native languages, cut their hair, replaced their tribal clothing, and encouraged the use of hitting, kicking, slapping, and washing the children's mouths out with soap as ways of punishment. ​​​​​​​​

“They tell us not to speak in Navajo language. You’re going to school. You’re supposed to only speak English. And it was true. They did practice that and we got punished if you was caught speaking Navajo.”

—John Brown, Jr., Navajo Code Talker, National Museum of the American Indian interview, 2004 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“In Indian civilization I am a Baptist, because I believe in immersing the Indian in our civilization and when we get them under, holding them there until they are thoroughly soaked.”

—Richard Henry Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (Battlefield and Classroom: Four Decades with the American Indian, 1867-1904 by Richard Henry Pratt, 1964)

​​​​​​​Navajo children still attended government controlled schools when America entered WWII.