Synthesis of Marker’s “Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival”

            Since the arrival of the Europeans, Native Americans have struggled to maintain there land and cultural identities as the white man tries to either force them away or integrate them western culture. This racism is still present today, a notable example being the schooling conflict of the Coast Salish people.

            The government in Washington state and British Columbia used education as means to assimilate the youth of the Coast Salish people. The school taught history and beliefs that clashed with those of the Coast Salish people in addition to practicing racism and cultural suppression, provoking resistance from them. Many of the Coast Salish people took their children out of the public school system and placed them into boarding schools instead, that allowed them to practice their beliefs without fear of persecution.

It is disheartening that even today, the Native Americans still face discrimination and oppression. I’m glad that they were able to find a way around the government’s forced integration, however, they shouldn’t have to take their children out of public into private schools just to practice their beliefs.