White mother to a dark race : settler colonialism, maternalism, and the removal of indigenous children in the American West and Australia, 1880-1940

Winner of the 2010 Bancroft PrizeIn the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, indigenous communities in the United States and Australia suffered a common experience at the hands of state authorities: the removal of their children to institutions in the name of assimilating American Indians and protecting Aboriginal people. Although officially characterized as benevolent, these government policies often inflicted great trauma on indigenous families and ultimately served the settler nations larger goals of consolidating control over indigenous peoples and their lands. White Mother to a Dark Race takes the study of indigenous education and acculturation in new directions in its examination of the key roles white women played in these policies of indigenous child-removal. Government officials, missionaries, and reformers justified the removal of indigenous children in particularly gendered ways by focusing on the supposed deficiencies of indigenous mothers, the alleged barbarity of indigenous men, and the lack of a patriarchal nuclear family. Often they deemed white women the most appropriate agents to carry out these child-removal policies. Inspired by the maternalist movement of the era, many white women were eager to serve as surrogate mothers to indigenous children and maneuvered to influence public policy affecting indigenous people. Although some white women developed caring relationships with indigenous children and others became critical of government policies, many became hopelessly ensnared in this insidious colonial policy. In The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries, American Indians In The United States And Aboriginal People In Australia Suffered A Common Experience At The Hands Of State Authorities: The Removal Of Their Children To Institutions In The Name Of Assimilation. Although Officially Characterized As Benevolent, These Policies Often Inflicted Great Trauma On Indigenous Families And Ultimately Served The Settler Nations’ Larger Goals Of Consolidating Control Over Indigenous Peoples And Their Lands. White Mother To A Dark Race Examines The Key Roles White Women Played In These Removal Policies. Government Officials, Missionaries, And Reformers Justified The Removal Of Indigenous Children In Particularly Gendered Ways By Focusing On The Supposed Deficiencies Of Indigenous Mothers, The Alleged Barbarity Of Indigenous Men, And The Lack Of A Patriarchal Nuclear Family In Indigenous Societies. Often They Deemed White Women The Most Appropriate Agents To Carry Out Child-removal Policies. Inspired By The Maternalist Movements Of The Era, Many White Women Were Eager To Serve As Surrogate Mothers To Indigenous Children And Maneuvered To Influence Public Policy Affecting Indigenous People. Although Some White Women Developed Caring Relationships With Indigenous Children And Others Became Critical Of Government Policies, Many Became Ensnared In This Insidious Colonial Policy.--back Cover. Gender And Settler Colonialism In The North American West And Australia -- Designing Indigenous Child Removal Policies -- The Great White Mother -- The Practice Of Indigenous Child Removal -- Intimate Betrayals -- Groomed To Be Useful -- Maternalism In The Institutions -- Out Of The Frying Pan -- Challenging Indigenous Child Removal. Margaret D. Jacobs. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [499]-528) And Index.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, indigenous communities in the United States and Australia suffered a common experience at the hands of state authorities: the removal of their children to institutions in the name of assimilating American Indians and protecting Aboriginal people. Although officially characterized as benevolent, these government policies often inflicted great trauma on indigenous families and ultimately served the settler nations’ larger goals of consolidating control over indigenous peoples and their lands.

White Mother to a Dark Race takes the study of indigenous education and acculturation in new directions in its examination of the key roles white women played in these policies of indigenous child-removal. Government officials, missionaries, and reformers justified the removal of indigenous children in particularly gendered ways by focusing on the supposed deficiencies of indigenous mothers, the alleged barbarity of indigenous men, and the lack of a patriarchal nuclear family. Often they deemed white women the most appropriate agents to carry out these child-removal policies. Inspired by the maternalist movement of the era, many white women were eager to serve as surrogate mothers to indigenous children and maneuvered to influence public policy affecting indigenous people. Although some white women developed caring relationships with indigenous children and others became critical of government policies, many became hopelessly ensnared in this insidious colonial policy.

Winner of the 2010 Bancroft Prize In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, indigenous communities in the United States and Australia suffered a common experience at the hands of state the removal of their children to institutions in the name of assimilating American Indians and protecting Aboriginal people. Although officially characterized as benevolent, these government policies often inflicted great trauma on indigenous families and ultimately served the settler nations larger goals of consolidating control over indigenous peoples and their lands. White Mother to a Dark Race takes the study of indigenous education and acculturation in new directions in its examination of the key roles white women played in these policies of indigenous child-removal. Government officials, missionaries, and reformers justified the removal of indigenous children in particularly gendered ways by focusing on the supposed deficiencies of indigenous mothers, the alleged barbarity of indigenous men, and the lack of a patriarchal nuclear family. Often they deemed white women the most appropriate agents to carry out these child-removal policies. Inspired by the maternalist movement of the era, many white women were eager to serve as surrogate mothers to indigenous children and maneuvered to influence public policy affecting indigenous people. Although some white women developed caring relationships with indigenous children and others became critical of government policies, many became hopelessly ensnared in this insidious colonial policy. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, indigenous communities in the United States and Australia suffered a common experience at the hands of state authorities: the removal of their children to institutions in the name of assimilating American Indians and protecting Aboriginal people. Although officially characterized as benevolent, these government policies often inflicted great trauma on indigenous families and ultimately served the settler nations' larger goals of consolidating control over indigenous peoples and their lands. This book takes the study of indigenous education and acculturation in new directions in its examination of the key roles white women played in these policies of indigenous child-removal. Government officials, missionaries, and reformers justified the removal of indigenous children in particularly gendered ways by focusing on the supposed deficiencies of indigenous mothers, the alleged barbarity of indigenous men, and the lack of a patriarchal nuclear family. Often they deemed white women the most appropriate agents to carry out these child-removal policies. Inspired by the maternalist movement of the era, many white women were eager to serve as surrogate mothers to indigenous children and manoeuvred to influence public policy affecting indigenous people. Although some white women developed caring relationships with indigenous children and others became critical of government policies, many became hopelessly ensnared in this insidious colonial policy Cover 1 White Mother to a Dark Race 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Maps 11 Acknowledgments 12 A Note on Terms 18 Abbreviations 20 Prologue 22 1. Gender and Settler Colonialism in the North American West and Australia 36 2. Designing Indigenous Child Removal Policies 60 3. The Great White Mother 122 4. The Practice of Indigenous Child Removal 184 5. Intimate Betrayals 228 6. Groomed to Be Useful 264 7. Maternalism in the Institutions 316 8. Out of the Frying Pan 364 9. Challenging Indigenous Child Removal 406 Epilogue 460 Afterword 470 Notes 474 Bibliography 534 Index 564 0803211007,9780803211001,080323516X,9780803235168 University of Nebraska Press