| Summary: | Hidatsa children living in the area, and another at the agency and a fourth at Shell Creek. In 1898, St. Edward's Catholic school was established at Elbow Woods. By 1900, the Indian Office had adopted a uniform policy for its Indian schools the main objective of which was to break down the tribal culture of the Indians, assimilate them into white society, and teach self-sufficiency. To this policy the concept of productive work was added. The schools on the Fort Berthold reservation began to conduct classes in English under the new directive from the Federal government. This directive prohibited the use of native languages. During this period, the federal government began to transfer students to public schools. This unilateral transference without parental consent brought the government under constant criticism from Indian and non-Indian residents in the area. In 1910, the Catholics took over running of the government boarding school. " By the 1930s, most of the children on the reservation were being educated in off-reservation boarding schools. By 1937, four day schools were built on Fort Berthold: one each at Beaver Creek, Nishu, Lucky Mound, and Red Butte. Consistent with federal policy, the Bureau of Indian affairs mandated that federal schools be transferred to public school jurisdiction. Elbow Woods school was taken over by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. With the building of the Garrison Dam these schools were relocated. The Tribes opposed the transference to public school jurisdiction. Today, the schools remain in federal jurisdiction. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides funds to operate schools at Twin Buttes, White Shield and Mandaree, these schools also serve as "cooperative schools." 23 Indian students also attend public schools at New Town, Parshall, and Roseglen on or near the reservation. Standing Rock Reservation The Standing Rock Reservation was established by the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 and several executive orders. In 1868, the reservation had an estimated 1,109 children of school age, two boarding schools, and five day schools in operation. The Roman Catholic Church had four missions. The first school, established in 1876, through the efforts of Father Martin Marty, was attended by about 25 students. There were two boarding schools opened under the direction of the Benedictine Fathers.2-4 There were five Catholic priests involved with missionary work. In 1878 an industrial school, St. Benedict's Agricultural Boarding school for boys, was built about 15 miles below the Fort Yates Agency and housed 135 students.25 The Congregational Church had one school at Grand River, South Dakota. Reverend T.L. Riggs, in 1883, built the Dakota Mission and conducted the day school in Grand River, some 32 miles southwest of the agency. In later years the 1997-1999 North Dakota Blue Book 473
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