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Assimilation

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What is the definition of assimilation?
Assimilation is a term referring to another part of the adaption process. Through assimilation, we take in new information or experiences and incorporate them into our existing ideas.
What happened to the Native Americans in the film?
They came in and took their kids and put them into boxcars. They shipped them to different boarding schools. They made them work all day and nothing they did was good enough. They took there families away and converted their lives to match their beliefs. They were beaten and raped. Some of the children never made it back home to their families.
Why did the American government decide to assimilate them into western culture?
They brought them from their homes so they could have free labor and make money off their abilities. It was also used as a way to disenfranchise Native Americans from their land, culture and identities so they would forget who they were and where they came from.
How did this affect them long term?
When they got old enough to leave they turned to drinking, drugs and prostitution. Many had to seek counseling because they had no love and affection, when they had children they treated them the way they were treated at the boarding school. It will affected the Native American population for generations to come.
Is acculturating others into another culture ever justified?
No, it is never justified. It takes away people’s freedom of choice, religion and culture. It takes away who they are and who they were meant to be.

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