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Boarding Schools

Suriver You

Understanding the past, healing in the presents, shaping the future.

Registraion is required. 

This presentation explores more than a century of the federal Indian boarding school system, examining its origins, purpose, and lasting impact on communities. Beginning with the federal policies that led to the establishment of government-run boarding schools in the late nineteenth century, through current issues still impacting Native people.

Blending historical research with oral storytelling and personal family history, Gabriann Hall provides a thoughtful and deeply personal perspective on one of the most significant—and often overlooked—chapters of American history. The presentation also highlights the strength, resilience, and perseverance of Native people who endured these experiences and the lasting legacy that continues to shape communities today.

As Gabriann Hall explains: "When I speak about Indian boarding schools, it comes from the heart. My grandmother, Marilyn Mitchell Hall, was a survivor of Canyonville Bible Academy in Oregon and Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas. It is important to me to share not only the intentions behind these schools, but also their short- and long-term impacts on our families, Tribal Nations, and communities. Above all, I strive to honor the strength and resilience of the Native people who endured these experiences and to tell their stories with the respect, dignity, and gratitude they deserve."

Content Advisory: This presentation includes discussions of trauma, empathy-based scenarios, historical photographs, and other sensitive imagery. It also features a brief video interview with Indian boarding school survivors sharing their personal experiences.

 About the Presenter:

Gabriann Hall is the granddaughter of Marilyn Mitchell Hall, a survivor of Canyonville Bible Academy in Oregon and Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas. Gabriann is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes.

Born and raised in the Fort Klamath Valley, Gabriann attended school in Chiloquin before earning a Bachelor of Science in Ethnic Studies, a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oregon State University.

Gabriann currently resides in Central Oregon and teaches Ethnic Studies and Native Studies at Central Oregon Community College. Her work is deeply informed by both her family's experiences and her commitment to sharing Indigenous histories that have too often been overlooked. She is passionate about helping others understand the lasting impacts of the federal Indian boarding school system and believes that an honest understanding of the past is essential to fostering healing, reconciliation, and a more informed future.

About Sunriver You:

Sunriver You is a volunteer organization created to provide learning opportunities for those in the greater Sunriver community.  Our mission is to create the opportunity to match up the “people who know stuff” with the “people who want to learn stuff”.  The premise is based on a simple idea of tapping into the wealth of knowledge on our doorstep to fill the desire for life-long learning that our community exhibits.  Learn more at https://www.sunriveryou.com/  

 Questions? Contact lizg@deschuteslibrary.org