Railroad Depot in Canton
Canton played an early role in South Dakota’s history (see last post), and was full of people who wanted to see it grow. The town set up a school almost as soon as the citizens began building log homes (1868), and shortly thereafter established businesses like the Elkhorn Tavern, a general store and community building, and a post office. Continue reading
Six Indian Chiefs at Roosevelt's 1905 Inaugural Parade, courtesy Library of Congress
Beginning shortly after the Civil War, the U.S. government realized that it needed to solve the “Indian Problem.” Debate raged for years concerning the capabilities of Indians, but eventually the consensus was that Indians could be assimilated into American culture.
Many people sincerely believed that Native Americans would be best served by adopting white culture. That meant owning their own land, farming and raising their own food, going to school, learning a trade, and learning English.
Learning Carpentry at Haskell Indian Junior College (1900-1924) courtesy Library of Congress
Indian Boys Doing Laundry, Carlisle School, 1901, courtesy Library of Congress
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