Indian Placement Program
Encyclopedia
The Indian Placement Program, or Indian Student Placement Program was a program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1947 to 1996, in which LDS Native American
(i.e. those considered Lamanites in Mormon culture
) students (upon request by their parents) were voluntarily placed in Latter-day Saint foster homes during the school year, where they would attend public schools and become assimilated into American culture . Cost of care borne by the foster parent.
The program was initially developed to respond to the needs of Navajo
teenagers and even younger children who were coming to parts of Utah
to work. It was felt it would be better for them to get an education. Only church members could participate in the program, which meant that children had to be eight to be involved. It should also be borne in mind it was developed in an era when educational opportunities on the reservation
were limited.
The program eventually became part of Latter-day Saint Social Services (now LDS Family Services
).
Beginning in the 1970s, however, the Indian Placement Program came under criticism. In 1977, the U.S. government commissioned a study to investigate accusations that the church was using its influence to push children into joining the program. The commission rejected these accusations, however, finding that the program was largely positive, and enjoyed emphatic support both from Native American parents and white foster parents. However, the criticism of the program continued. Supporters believed that exposure to white culture was beneficial to Native American children, and that it improved educational and economic opportunities, while critics believed the program undermined the children's Native American identity. These supporters failed to consider the educational and social issues that surrounded the beginning of the program. Another factor such people ignored is that Native American identity has deep religious implications, and in some ways rejection of Native American identity is similar to rejection of Jewish identity
.
In 1989, George P. Lee
, a Navajo member of the First Quorum of the Seventy who had participated in the Indian Placement Program in his youth, was excommunicated soon after he had submitted to the First Presidency
a 23-page letter critical of the program being phased out. However, his excommunication may have had more to do with a charge of attempted child molestation (in which Lee explained to the young girl that the Lord had commanded him to take her as a polygamous wife), to which he later pleaded guilty.
In 1996 the program came to an official end.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
(i.e. those considered Lamanites in Mormon culture
Culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reflecting the cultural impact of basic beliefs and traditions of the church, distinguishes church members, practices, and activities...
) students (upon request by their parents) were voluntarily placed in Latter-day Saint foster homes during the school year, where they would attend public schools and become assimilated into American culture . Cost of care borne by the foster parent.
The program was initially developed to respond to the needs of Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
teenagers and even younger children who were coming to parts of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to work. It was felt it would be better for them to get an education. Only church members could participate in the program, which meant that children had to be eight to be involved. It should also be borne in mind it was developed in an era when educational opportunities on the reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
were limited.
The program eventually became part of Latter-day Saint Social Services (now LDS Family Services
LDS Family Services
LDS Family Services is a private nonprofit corporation owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It offers members of the church and others adoption services, marital and family counseling, addiction and drug dependency counseling, general psychotherapy, and counseling...
).
Beginning in the 1970s, however, the Indian Placement Program came under criticism. In 1977, the U.S. government commissioned a study to investigate accusations that the church was using its influence to push children into joining the program. The commission rejected these accusations, however, finding that the program was largely positive, and enjoyed emphatic support both from Native American parents and white foster parents. However, the criticism of the program continued. Supporters believed that exposure to white culture was beneficial to Native American children, and that it improved educational and economic opportunities, while critics believed the program undermined the children's Native American identity. These supporters failed to consider the educational and social issues that surrounded the beginning of the program. Another factor such people ignored is that Native American identity has deep religious implications, and in some ways rejection of Native American identity is similar to rejection of Jewish identity
Jewish identity
Jewish identity is the objective or subjective state of perceiving oneself as a Jew and as relating to being Jewish. Under the broader definition, the Jewish identity does not depend on whether or not a person is regarded as a Jew by others, or by an external set of religious, or legal, or...
.
In 1989, George P. Lee
George P. Lee
George Patrick Lee was the first Native American to become a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was a member of the church's First Quorum of Seventy between 1975 and 1989, when he was excommunicated from the church...
, a Navajo member of the First Quorum of the Seventy who had participated in the Indian Placement Program in his youth, was excommunicated soon after he had submitted to the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
a 23-page letter critical of the program being phased out. However, his excommunication may have had more to do with a charge of attempted child molestation (in which Lee explained to the young girl that the Lord had commanded him to take her as a polygamous wife), to which he later pleaded guilty.
In 1996 the program came to an official end.