Editing Amerindian Genocide (section)

====Assimilation policies====
The [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] pursued a policy of cultural assimilation of Native Americans under the Dawes Act of 1887. Based on [[Richard Pratt]]'s ideology of "kill the Indian and save the man", the BIA forcibly enrolled Native American children in "Indian boarding schools" (most infamously [[Carlisle Indian Industrial School]]) where they were banned from speaking their native language and practicing their religion. Children were harshly disciplined if they refused to assimilate into white culture and many died. Parents who refused to give up their children were incarcerated. This policy of cultural genocide finally ended in 1934 when the failures of the policy became clear and the schools were all closed. 

The Canadian government pursued the same policy with the [[Canadian Indian residential school system]] which was designed to forcibly assimilate native children into western culture. These schools were even more brutal than the American ones, with many acts of physical, mental and sexual abuse being committed against the children. Thousands of children died due to poor treatment until the system was closed down in 1997, and mass graves are still being uncovered today.