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Kill the Indian, Save the Man
For five consecutive generations, from roughly 1880 to 1980, Native American children in the United States and Canada were forcibly taken from their families and relocated to residential schools. The stated goal of this government program was to "kill the Indian to save the man." Half of the children did not survive the experience, and those who did were left permanently scarred. The resulting alcoholism, suicide and the transmission of trauma to their own children has led to a social disintegration with results that can only be described as genocidal. "The Indian residential schools in both the US and Canada . . . include[d] the forced exile of children and the prohibition of the use of a national language or religion . . . Churchill presents a bleak yet utterly necessary history of a brutal system that was in effect until 1990."— Booklist "Painful and powerful, Kill the Indian, Save the Man provides the first comprehensive study of the effects of the residential schools into which American Indian children were forced by the U.S. and Canadian governments. With his usual painstaking accuracy and moving prose, Churchill exposes the genocidal nature of this important dimension of the assimilationist policies that continue to decimate Native North American communities. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the ravages of settler state colonialism or the effects of transgenerational trauma."—Natsu Taylor Saito, Professor of Law, Georgia State University, and author of We Have Met the Enemy, American Exceptionalism and Subversion of the Rule of Law "The analysis and evidence deployed herein are both compelling and altogether consistent with what I’ve discovered in my own research and experience as a judge on a special tribunal assessing the effects of residential schooling on the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. I urge all people who oppose genocide—from whatever source, against whatever victims—to read this book."—Jim Craven (Omahkohkiaayo-i’poyi), citizen of the Blackfoot Nation and Professor of Economics, Clark College Ward Churchill is the author of A Little Matter of Genocide , among other books. He is currently a Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
158 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
13 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Ward Churchill
56 books136 followersWard Churchill (Keetowah Cherokee) has achieved an unparalleled reputation as a scholar-activist and analyst of indigenous issues. He was a Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from 1990 till 2007; a leading member of the American Indian Movement (AIM); and has been a delegate to the U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations. He is the author of numerous books, including A Little Matter of Genocide, Fantasies of the Master Race, and Struggle for the Land.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 18, 2013
the indian residential schools were nothing more than concentration camps. one of the main differences though being that the indian residential schools killed a higher percentage of their 'students' than the nazi camps did. also these schools went on for about 100 years. so sorry if you want to whine about people being overly sensitive to things like the name of the dc football team or wearing 'indian' costumes for halloween, but i'm not having any of it. the us and canadian governments committed genocide on the native peoples of north america. and anyone who wants to say otherwise better stfu and gtfo.
September 7, 2018
Should be required reading for every person. American or not. Counter to the lies being told in our history classes propogating the myth of manifest destiny and divine providence, we ought to make more room in our social-political consciousness to reclaim our history and work toward repatriation. Because while Native Americans continue to struggle with complex PTSD conditions and generational economic/political destitution, the same methods of domination are still at work in the "modern" neo-liberal globalized system. Runaway corporate capitalism looks a lot like the violence of settler-colonialism, but this time the target is all of us.
April 17, 2017
I picked this up in order to do some research for my paper, and it really makes you sick to your stomach to know that atrocities like these were forced upon Native Americans and Canadian Aboriginals. Ward Churchill did not shy away from sharing facts and details about the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse that the "students" faced during their years at the schools for simply being who they were. The effects did not stop as soon as the last residential school closed in the 1980s. It has trans-generational effects that disrupts familial bonds and structures.
As hard as it was to read, I'm glad to have woken myself up a lot more about what these children faced in their youth by the Canadian government. It's a very dark and horrific part of Canadian history, but its important to be aware of.
As hard as it was to read, I'm glad to have woken myself up a lot more about what these children faced in their youth by the Canadian government. It's a very dark and horrific part of Canadian history, but its important to be aware of.
February 13, 2017
Published by City Lights Books in SF, [from their website]: "a landmark independent bookstore and publisher that specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics."
It seems the author used more "backup" material than text; pages and pages of Notes after each chapter.
The message was conveyed and, no doubt about it, nicely-researched. Good pictures. This whole idea was an inhumane travesty; children should not be removed from their parents--to be placed into a children's prison-like environment?? wrong wrong wrong
It seems the author used more "backup" material than text; pages and pages of Notes after each chapter.
The message was conveyed and, no doubt about it, nicely-researched. Good pictures. This whole idea was an inhumane travesty; children should not be removed from their parents--to be placed into a children's prison-like environment?? wrong wrong wrong
October 22, 2012
Ward Churchill is utterly brilliant - he beautifully links together the genocidal policies of both the American and Canadian governments in this succinct, gripping and devastating examination of the impact of the residential schools on First Peoples - what is the most tragic element of his close examination are those voices who spoke out about impact of the schools at a time when it might have been too late to stop the horrors that they inflicted Peter Henderson Bryce here in Canada who as early as 1907 spoke out against the schools on the basis of how mismanaged they were and who in 1922 put his career on the line because he called the schools a national crime - Churchill's book is so well-researched and thoughtfully constructed - I am once again shattered by what we did as a nation. Nothing.
August 19, 2017
Excellent, upsetting, unflinching, and necessary
June 1, 2023
“Kill the Indian, Save the Man: The Genocidal Impact of American Indian Residential Schools" is a powerful and essential work that has brought to the forefront the devastating effects of the Indian residential school system on American Indian communities. Churchill's comprehensive analysis of the history and legacy of the system is deeply moving and thought-provoking, shedding light on the atrocities committed against American Indian children in these institutions.
As an American Indian individual, I am grateful for Churchill's work and his dedication to raising awareness about the trauma and suffering experienced by countless families. The impact of the residential school system on American Indian communities is profound and far-reaching, and Churchill's book serves as a reminder of the injustices committed against American Indians.
Through his book, Churchill has brought attention to the long-term impact of the residential school system on American Indian co mmunities, including the loss of culture, language, and traditional knowledge. The forced assimilation of American Indian children into Euro-American culture was a deliberate attempt to eradicate Native cultures and replace them with the dominant culture, a process that Churchill describes as "cultural genocide."
Churchill's book also highlights the physical and emotional abuse suffered by American Indian children in residential schools. The trauma inflicted on these children has had a lasting impact on their lives and the lives of their descendants.
Churchill's work is an important critique of the colonialist mindset that led to the establishment of the Indian residential school system. The belief that American Indians were inferior and needed to be assimilated into Euro-American culture was a central tenet of colonialism. Churchill exposes the racism and prejudice that underpinned this ideology and the devastating consequences it had for American Indian communities.
In addition to Churchill's groundbreaking work on the residential school system, he has also been a strong advocate for American Indian rights and sovereignty. He has written extensively on issues such as land rights, treaty rights, and the ongoing struggles of American Indian communities.
Churchill's activism has been instrumental in bringing attention to these important issues and advocating for change. He has also been a mentor and inspiration to many young American Indian activists, encouraging them to continue the fight for justice and self-determination.
Despite facing backlash and controversy throughout his career, Churchill has remained steadfast in his commitment to advocating for our rights and speaking truth to power. His work has challenged prevailing narratives and exposed the systemic injustices faced by American Indian communities.
In recognition of his contributions, Churchill has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.
Churchill's work has done so much for our collective peoples. His activism and scholarship have shed light on the injustices faced by American Indians and challenged the dominant narratives that have historically erased our experiences and perspectives.
It's frustrating to see people criticizing Ward Churchill and trying to discredit his Indigenous identity by questioning his lineage. But the truth is that Indigenous identity is complex and cannot be reduced to a simple measure of blood quantum. He's been a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
I think it's time for Churchill's critics to question why they are enforcing paper genocide?
Even Custer had full blooded scouts…
As an American Indian individual, I am grateful for Churchill's work and his dedication to raising awareness about the trauma and suffering experienced by countless families. The impact of the residential school system on American Indian communities is profound and far-reaching, and Churchill's book serves as a reminder of the injustices committed against American Indians.
Through his book, Churchill has brought attention to the long-term impact of the residential school system on American Indian co mmunities, including the loss of culture, language, and traditional knowledge. The forced assimilation of American Indian children into Euro-American culture was a deliberate attempt to eradicate Native cultures and replace them with the dominant culture, a process that Churchill describes as "cultural genocide."
Churchill's book also highlights the physical and emotional abuse suffered by American Indian children in residential schools. The trauma inflicted on these children has had a lasting impact on their lives and the lives of their descendants.
Churchill's work is an important critique of the colonialist mindset that led to the establishment of the Indian residential school system. The belief that American Indians were inferior and needed to be assimilated into Euro-American culture was a central tenet of colonialism. Churchill exposes the racism and prejudice that underpinned this ideology and the devastating consequences it had for American Indian communities.
In addition to Churchill's groundbreaking work on the residential school system, he has also been a strong advocate for American Indian rights and sovereignty. He has written extensively on issues such as land rights, treaty rights, and the ongoing struggles of American Indian communities.
Churchill's activism has been instrumental in bringing attention to these important issues and advocating for change. He has also been a mentor and inspiration to many young American Indian activists, encouraging them to continue the fight for justice and self-determination.
Despite facing backlash and controversy throughout his career, Churchill has remained steadfast in his commitment to advocating for our rights and speaking truth to power. His work has challenged prevailing narratives and exposed the systemic injustices faced by American Indian communities.
In recognition of his contributions, Churchill has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.
Churchill's work has done so much for our collective peoples. His activism and scholarship have shed light on the injustices faced by American Indians and challenged the dominant narratives that have historically erased our experiences and perspectives.
It's frustrating to see people criticizing Ward Churchill and trying to discredit his Indigenous identity by questioning his lineage. But the truth is that Indigenous identity is complex and cannot be reduced to a simple measure of blood quantum. He's been a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
I think it's time for Churchill's critics to question why they are enforcing paper genocide?
Even Custer had full blooded scouts…
February 15, 2021
Kill the Indian, Save the Man by Ward Churchill. Churchill discusses the heartbreaking long term effects residential schools had on the indigenous people, as well as torture, forced labor, and forced starvation.
Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and put in residential schools to assimilate them into a more euro-centric way of living. Forced to cut their long hair (which is considered sacred in many native tribes), forbidden to speak their native language, and forbidden to do anything that was related to their indigenous roots. The goal of Residential Schools was to kill indigenous culture. In these schools they endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from school administration. Many Residential School attendees have been known to suffer from a form of PTSD known as “Residential School Syndrome (RSS)”; many individuals suffering from RSS struggle with substance abuse and psychological dysfunctions. You know that racist stereotype of “the drunk Indian that beats his wife” attached to indigenous people? That stereotype blames the native for their actions, but doesn’t take into consideration the colonial suppression that led them to those behaviors. With the loss of culture and healing practices, RSS trauma has been known to be passed down through generations; an unfortunate cycle that began with colonialism.
While the last Residential School closed in 1996, the governments practice of stealing children is NOT a thing of the past and still widely practiced today. Statista has reported that about 97,777 (87,652 + 10,152) of indigenous children of this land are in foster care. This colonial system has long deemed indigenous people as “unfit” to care for their children and putting them into foster care. We are also seeing this today at the border, *hint hint* parent & child separation. The government now says they cant find the parents of 545 children they separated from their parents.
Systemic racism & cultural genocide is still alive and well
Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and put in residential schools to assimilate them into a more euro-centric way of living. Forced to cut their long hair (which is considered sacred in many native tribes), forbidden to speak their native language, and forbidden to do anything that was related to their indigenous roots. The goal of Residential Schools was to kill indigenous culture. In these schools they endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from school administration. Many Residential School attendees have been known to suffer from a form of PTSD known as “Residential School Syndrome (RSS)”; many individuals suffering from RSS struggle with substance abuse and psychological dysfunctions. You know that racist stereotype of “the drunk Indian that beats his wife” attached to indigenous people? That stereotype blames the native for their actions, but doesn’t take into consideration the colonial suppression that led them to those behaviors. With the loss of culture and healing practices, RSS trauma has been known to be passed down through generations; an unfortunate cycle that began with colonialism.
While the last Residential School closed in 1996, the governments practice of stealing children is NOT a thing of the past and still widely practiced today. Statista has reported that about 97,777 (87,652 + 10,152) of indigenous children of this land are in foster care. This colonial system has long deemed indigenous people as “unfit” to care for their children and putting them into foster care. We are also seeing this today at the border, *hint hint* parent & child separation. The government now says they cant find the parents of 545 children they separated from their parents.
Systemic racism & cultural genocide is still alive and well
December 9, 2024
4.5/5
Reading this was required for my sociology course this semester, but honestly I think it should be required reading for all. It really countered so many lies told by American history textbook writers, since they don't want to teach us the ugly parts of our history. While I think it is common knowledge (or at least I hope it is) that in the past the United States had treated the Native Americans VERY poorly, but this book outlines how the United States is still actively committing genocide against Native American populations in ways that no one seems to talk about. The physical, biological, and cultural acts of genocide that this book outlines are absolutely harrowing. I mean this book really makes you sick to your stomach to know that atrocities like these were forced upon Native Americans and Canadian Aboriginals. Ward Churchill did not shy away from sharing any of the facts and details about the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse that Native Americans faced during their years at the residential schools for simply being who they were. And reading about how the effects did not stop, even as soon as the last residential school closed in the 1980s, was haunting and show these actions by the United States has trans-generational effects that disrupts familial bonds and structures.
Reading this was required for my sociology course this semester, but honestly I think it should be required reading for all. It really countered so many lies told by American history textbook writers, since they don't want to teach us the ugly parts of our history. While I think it is common knowledge (or at least I hope it is) that in the past the United States had treated the Native Americans VERY poorly, but this book outlines how the United States is still actively committing genocide against Native American populations in ways that no one seems to talk about. The physical, biological, and cultural acts of genocide that this book outlines are absolutely harrowing. I mean this book really makes you sick to your stomach to know that atrocities like these were forced upon Native Americans and Canadian Aboriginals. Ward Churchill did not shy away from sharing any of the facts and details about the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse that Native Americans faced during their years at the residential schools for simply being who they were. And reading about how the effects did not stop, even as soon as the last residential school closed in the 1980s, was haunting and show these actions by the United States has trans-generational effects that disrupts familial bonds and structures.
December 3, 2021
The book is well researched and written. It is more of a research document than a cover to cover story, so I didn’t read the genealogies and appendices. What I did read was highly disturbing and wretched. I knew that just the act of pulling those children away from home and family was enough and that teaching Western thought and behavior was detrimental, but I assumed (silly me) that most of the instructors were well intentioned, but misguided individuals who thought they were doing what was best for the child. Not so much. It seems there is documented evidence of systemic and purposeful abuse of every kind, starvation and cultural genocide enacted upon these people for over 150 years!! God help us.
February 16, 2022
Ward Churchill writes about the genocide of the Native Americans by taking the reader through the creation of boarding schools in which indigenous youth were forcibly taken from reservations and made to attend.
Churchill makes a convincing argument that what happened to the indigenous population in North America was genocide as it aligns with multiple prongs of the official definition as established in the Genocide Convention of 1948.
This book is very sad but a must read for anyone interested in the attempted destruction of Native Americans.
Churchill makes a convincing argument that what happened to the indigenous population in North America was genocide as it aligns with multiple prongs of the official definition as established in the Genocide Convention of 1948.
This book is very sad but a must read for anyone interested in the attempted destruction of Native Americans.
August 12, 2019
This is a must-read for anyone doing education work (either teaching, administrating or advocating). The experiences of Native North American children in residential schools is thoughtfully outlined and discussed. The framework of genocide, which Churchill uses throughout the book, is especially useful because it brings the context of residential schools in line with the broader actions of the US and Canadian governments to remove/reduce populations of native people.
May 26, 2023
Så forfærdelig og så vigtig!
Jeg har brugt næsten 3 mdr på at læse de 90 siders tekst, både fordi min hjerne ikke kan læse så meget fagtekst ad gangen, men også fordi det er udmattende at være så vred og ked af det, som jeg har været under min læsning. Og jeg er så privilegeret, at jeg kan tillade mig at være udmattet.
Og for the danes - 16 sider inde kunne jeg konkludere, at Danmark efter internationale vedtægter er skyldig i folkemord på inuit.
Jeg har brugt næsten 3 mdr på at læse de 90 siders tekst, både fordi min hjerne ikke kan læse så meget fagtekst ad gangen, men også fordi det er udmattende at være så vred og ked af det, som jeg har været under min læsning. Og jeg er så privilegeret, at jeg kan tillade mig at være udmattet.
Og for the danes - 16 sider inde kunne jeg konkludere, at Danmark efter internationale vedtægter er skyldig i folkemord på inuit.
October 15, 2019
Devastating. This or equivalent should be required reading in all history classes. Higher percentages of death in North American residential schools than at Dachau. For a hundred years these schools were a government- perpetuated genocide. Tragic and crushing.
November 13, 2021
It wasn’t until the last few years that I learned about residential schools, the genocide perpetrated on the native people of the U.S. and Canada.
This is such an important book. It bears witness to the survivors and those killed in the system. Everyone should read this.
This is such an important book. It bears witness to the survivors and those killed in the system. Everyone should read this.
January 29, 2018
It was an amazing book that thoroughly details the white washing of American Indians and it is very emotionally hard to read.
February 17, 2018
4 1/4 stars
July 19, 2020
Difficult to read-but vital in understanding the genocidal history of our country.
January 12, 2022
lol we are such garbage
January 11, 2023
book club assigned. necessary understanding and perspective
May 30, 2024
An important book for all history teachers and lovers of history to read.
September 7, 2024
An amazing and devastating at the same time. Enlightened me to the true genocide of native Americans.
January 23, 2025
Not the most entertaining read. However, it is very informative & it has good information.
September 30, 2025
ROUGH read
October 18, 2015
This book is a real eye-opener to the atrocities committed toward American Indians in the name of "civilizing" them. This is an in-depth study of the horrors and damages (if damage can begin to cover what took place) that occurred in the Boarding Schools for the American Indian children. This book should be read by everyone who wishes to have a broader understanding of the American Indian experience in North America, and the abuses the American government imposed on them. This is not an easy read as it contains content that is difficult to take in, but I still recommend this book especially for educators.
January 20, 2012
(I started this book originally when I was in the hospital - my dad read me parts of it) But it really dealt with the residential schools for Native Americans and discussed the impact that they had on their society to try to get all of Americans the 'same'
December 17, 2012
Brief book packed with stats and stories about American Indian Residential Schools. Particularly interesting given Churchill's argument that these schools were a key part of the genocide against Native Americans.
Read
February 16, 2009In depth analysis of the boarding school genocide against the native peoples of America.
February 21, 2013
an absolute must read for any one interested in the history of how the kidnapping of children was sancioned by government way before the nazis did it.
December 6, 2015
read for paper AMIN 3201W
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews