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Converting the Rosebud: Catholic Mission and the Lakotas, 1886–1916 (Volume 277)
When Andrew Jackson’s removal policy failed to solve the “Indian problem,” the federal government turned to religion for assistance. Nineteenth-century Catholic and Protestant reformers eagerly founded reservation missions and boarding schools, hoping to “civilize and Christianize” their supposedly savage charges. In telling the story of the Saint Francis Indian Mission on the Sicangu Lakota Rosebud Reservation, Converting the Rosebud illuminates the complexities of federal Indian reform, Catholic mission policy, and pre- and post-reservation Lakota culture.
Author Harvey Markowitz frames the history of the Saint Francis Mission within a broader narrative of the battles waged on a national level between the Catholic Church and the Protestant organizations that often opposed its agenda for American Indian conversion and education. He then juxtaposes these battles with the federal government’s relentless attempts to conquer and colonize the Lakota tribes through warfare and diplomacy, culminating in the transformation of the Sicangu Lakotas from a sovereign people into wards of the government designated as the Rosebud Sioux. Markowitz follows the unpredictable twists in the relationships between the Jesuit priests and Franciscan sisters stationed at Saint Francis and their two missionary partners—the United States Indian Office, whose assimilationist goals the missionaries fully shared, and the Sicangus themselves, who selectively adopted and adapted those elements of Catholicism and Euro-American culture that they found meaningful and useful.
Tracing the mission from its 1886 founding in present-day South Dakota to the 1916 fire that reduced it to ashes, Converting the Rosebud unveils the complex church-state network that guided conversion efforts on the Rosebud Reservation. Markowitz also reveals the extent to which the Sicangus responded to those efforts—and, in doing so, created a distinct understanding of Catholicism centered on traditional Lakota concepts of sacred power.
Author Harvey Markowitz frames the history of the Saint Francis Mission within a broader narrative of the battles waged on a national level between the Catholic Church and the Protestant organizations that often opposed its agenda for American Indian conversion and education. He then juxtaposes these battles with the federal government’s relentless attempts to conquer and colonize the Lakota tribes through warfare and diplomacy, culminating in the transformation of the Sicangu Lakotas from a sovereign people into wards of the government designated as the Rosebud Sioux. Markowitz follows the unpredictable twists in the relationships between the Jesuit priests and Franciscan sisters stationed at Saint Francis and their two missionary partners—the United States Indian Office, whose assimilationist goals the missionaries fully shared, and the Sicangus themselves, who selectively adopted and adapted those elements of Catholicism and Euro-American culture that they found meaningful and useful.
Tracing the mission from its 1886 founding in present-day South Dakota to the 1916 fire that reduced it to ashes, Converting the Rosebud unveils the complex church-state network that guided conversion efforts on the Rosebud Reservation. Markowitz also reveals the extent to which the Sicangus responded to those efforts—and, in doing so, created a distinct understanding of Catholicism centered on traditional Lakota concepts of sacred power.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published March 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2018
Converting the Rosebud is about the Roman Catholic mission to the Sicangu (Sioux) Indians on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota from 1886 to 1916. These dates reflect the official beginning to the fire that destroyed most of buildings. However, the book is much more encompassing than just sticking to this limited time frame.
The book touches on many subjects, including Protestant v. Catholic missiology, post-Civil War relations with the Native Americans, religious v. government boarding houses, Indian removal & the beginning of the reservation systems, & "Civilization| v. "Savagery". It might feel like too much information for some, but the author does not get caught up in too many details . Instead, each part fits like a puzzle peace into the small microcosm of Rosebud.
Markowitz covers the staff, whom he uses for many of his details about life at that time. Abbott (later Bishop) Marty, Friar Digmann, & the Sisters - many of whom came from Germany after the rise of "Kulturkampf" with Otto von Bismark & his fight with Pope Pius. This policy, leading to many Catholics coming to the United States (Buffalo) & eventually the Native American reservations.
A lot of the book touches on the Catholic vs. Protestant skirmishes - poaching converts from each other in various ways (conversion of chiefs, children, policies regarding who can attend religious schools. There is a lot of antipathy as the expectations of converts differed as well as incorporation of pre-Christian religious elements.
The author doesn't cover the non-Catholic missions in the book, as he admits this could make the book unwieldy in focus. Nor does it deal with other reservations that much. World affairs (like the Franco-Prussian War, Spanish-American war) is not touched upon. But this book is not intended to be like that. It explains & shows what is needed to understand this period of change - for both groups.
Overall, the author keeps a largely neutral stance, willing to criticize many leaps in logic different people at the time took. But even when he does this, he doesn't necessarily try to pass judgement. In this, I think this book should be read by anybody trying to understand the beginnings of the reservation system in the United States. I cannot speak too highly of this product as I took copious notes on it.
The book touches on many subjects, including Protestant v. Catholic missiology, post-Civil War relations with the Native Americans, religious v. government boarding houses, Indian removal & the beginning of the reservation systems, & "Civilization| v. "Savagery". It might feel like too much information for some, but the author does not get caught up in too many details . Instead, each part fits like a puzzle peace into the small microcosm of Rosebud.
Markowitz covers the staff, whom he uses for many of his details about life at that time. Abbott (later Bishop) Marty, Friar Digmann, & the Sisters - many of whom came from Germany after the rise of "Kulturkampf" with Otto von Bismark & his fight with Pope Pius. This policy, leading to many Catholics coming to the United States (Buffalo) & eventually the Native American reservations.
A lot of the book touches on the Catholic vs. Protestant skirmishes - poaching converts from each other in various ways (conversion of chiefs, children, policies regarding who can attend religious schools. There is a lot of antipathy as the expectations of converts differed as well as incorporation of pre-Christian religious elements.
The author doesn't cover the non-Catholic missions in the book, as he admits this could make the book unwieldy in focus. Nor does it deal with other reservations that much. World affairs (like the Franco-Prussian War, Spanish-American war) is not touched upon. But this book is not intended to be like that. It explains & shows what is needed to understand this period of change - for both groups.
Overall, the author keeps a largely neutral stance, willing to criticize many leaps in logic different people at the time took. But even when he does this, he doesn't necessarily try to pass judgement. In this, I think this book should be read by anybody trying to understand the beginnings of the reservation system in the United States. I cannot speak too highly of this product as I took copious notes on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2022
Fascinating
This makes use of many sources, chief among them the diary of Fr.Diggman, the mission superior of the time. It gives a clear and honest account of the Catholic missionaries’ aims and methods, and how the Sicangu people responded to them as a result of the people’s world view. It is no surprise that late 19th century Catholics were unbending in their demands for orthodoxy. Also sad they were not able to respect at all and work within Sicangu tradition. Much to think about in this excellent book.
This makes use of many sources, chief among them the diary of Fr.Diggman, the mission superior of the time. It gives a clear and honest account of the Catholic missionaries’ aims and methods, and how the Sicangu people responded to them as a result of the people’s world view. It is no surprise that late 19th century Catholics were unbending in their demands for orthodoxy. Also sad they were not able to respect at all and work within Sicangu tradition. Much to think about in this excellent book.
March 22, 2023
Excellent history with in-depth look into Lakota religion
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews