The American Indian Institute: Native American founded education

Abstract

Thesis (M.A.)-- Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of AnthropologyThe American Indian Institute (AII), a Federal Native American Boarding School that operated in Wichita, Kansas from 1915 to 1935, was founded with the unique goals of integrating traditional Native American knowledge and traditions in a Euro-American educational setting. Founded by Ho-Chunk Native American Dr. Henry Roe Cloud , the AII also worked to promote higher education and Christian leadership amongst Native American youth at the time. Spanning over 80 acres, the AII consisted of several dormitory buildings, barns for agricultural equipment, kitchens, and other facilities for the students’ education and care. Presently, the property has been heavily developed; divided into plats for neighborhoods, a church, and a fraternity. Currently, there is no archaeological research on the AII, easily accessible information on the AII is extremely limited, and very little awareness of its existence in the local community. These gaps necessitate research that both engages the community and fills the gaps in knowledge of the Institute. If archaeological investigations are to be conducted in the future, the research must be collaborative from the beginning. To facilitate this, information covering the AII and relevant additional topics was compiled and shared with the local Native American community. By distributing the information and including a feedback survey, we were able to gauge the general level of interest amongst the Native American community in Wichita, Kansas. This research also provides a nuanced discussion of archaeological stakeholders related to the AII