CHANDLER, Ariz. – Beginning in the 1870s, the U.S. government attempted to educate and assimilate American Indians into “civilized” society by placing children—of all ages, from thousands of homes and hundreds of diverse tribes—in distant, residential boarding schools. Many were forcibly taken from their families and communities, and stripped of all signs of “Indianness,” even forbidden to speak their own languages amongst themselves.
Up until the 1930s, students were trained for domestic work and trade in a highly regimented environment. Many children went years without familial contact, and these events had a lasting, generational impact.
“Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories” explores off-reservation boarding schools in a kaleidoscope of voices. "Away from Home" opens Nov. 12 and will be on view through Jan. 5, 2025 at Chandler Museum.
This exhibition was adapted from the permanent exhibition, “Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories,” organized by The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. Both the original exhibit and this touring version were supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Please note: “Away from Home” contains stories of resilience and revitalization, agency and honor. Please be aware that it also contains descriptions of human indignities and hardships, and terms that reflect historically racist perspectives and language from past eras. This exhibition is advised for more mature audience members, grades eight to adult.
The Chandler Museum is located 300 S. Chandler Village Drive. It is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
Find more information on the exhibitions and programming online at Chandler Museum or call 480-782-2717.
Chandler Museum is an innovative learning environment where the community comes together to share our stories, store our cultural heritage, and experience Chandler as a people and place. The vision of the Museum is to be the community’s principal resource to explore its people’s history, culture, and place in a rapidly changing world of today – within and without the walls of a building. Find more information online at Chandler Museum.
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout our region and beyond. We achieve this primarily through our national traveling exhibition programs, innovative leadership development, and strategic grant making. We are especially committed to enriching the cultural life of historically underserved communities by providing high quality, meaningful, and accessible arts and culture programs and services. We believe in more art for more people. Additional information about M-AAA is available at Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Media contact:
Rebecca Vega
Chandler Museum Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator
480-782-2879