The Office of Multicultural Student Services hosted a reader’s theatre as one of their many events for Native American Heritage Month.
“Stories from Within the Walls of the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School 1893-1934” highlighted the real-life experiences of students, faculty, and administrators during the time of the school’s operation.
The theatre was performed by Ferris students and offered the audience a perspective on what life was like at the school, as well as educating them on the conduct within the school during its operation.
During its 40 years of operation, the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School educated thousands of Native American children from Michigan and other nearby states. Annual enrollments are estimated to have been between 300 and 375 students.
The schools’ practices followed many other schools within the Bureau of Indian Affairs system. The discipline was strict, and the goal was to assimilate Native American children into Euro-American culture.
The theatre shared the testimonies of several different individuals who worked and attended the school. These stories highlighted the strict rules students had to follow, as well as the misconduct against students living in the school.
Ruby MeShawboose, the author and researcher behind the play, is a Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Elder. She began her research in 2011 and has since continued her work to honor the individuals who spent their lives within the walls of the boarding school.
MeShawboose was inspired to turn her research into a play after attending a reader’s theatre in Mt. Pleasant.
“We went to see this reader’s theatre in Mt. Pleasant,” MeShawboose said. “I brought in two examples of my research, and then the ball started rolling about getting more research done, and everything like that.”
MeShawboose also emphasized that having students participate in the theatre was crucial to expanding the education on Native American history.
“As far as the students here, the history has not been taught right,” MeShawboose said. “So, if I could provide this, now they can tell you what’s happening. They should be aware of what’s going on in the Native American community.”
For MeShawboose, the research does not end here. She plans to write another theatre, focusing on bringing more stories to light and educating people about Native American history.
Besides further research, MeShawboose hopes to plan a cemetery tour aimed at educating people about specific individuals who lived and worked at the boarding school and their experiences during their time there.
Elementary education junior Harley Cadarett said that the event opened her eyes to the reality of boarding school life.
“I think it is very eye opening,” Cadarett said. “It’s sad to think that people actually did things like that.”
Cadarett also expressed the importance of having this event on a college campus and educating student life about Native American history.
“I think college students don’t think about things from the past,” Cadarett said. “They’re kind of in the present and looking towards the future. So, I think it’s good for people to know about.”
Digital animation and game design senior Tyler Ginac was one of the performers in the theatre. His role was that of Alfred Livesley, a former industrial teacher at the Chehalis Indian School.
For Ginac, the goal of this event is to educate students about the terrible things that happened within boarding schools.
“I hope it gives students a point of view, that this was nearby in the Mt. Pleasant area,” Ginac said. “Hopefully they get more information about how terrible this was, and that this was somewhat in our time.”
The reader’s theatre was the second event hosted by OMSS for Native American Heritage Month. The office has several other events planned for the month, including guest speakers and a trivia night.