Sherman Indian High School
Encyclopedia
Sherman Indian High School (SIHS) is an off-reservation boarding high school
for Native Americans
. Originally opened in 1892 as the Perris Indian School, in Perris, California
, United States, the school was relocated to Riverside, California
, in 1903, under the name The Sherman Institute. When the school was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
in 1971, it become known as the Sherman Indian High School.
Operated by the Bureau of Indian Education
/Bureau of Indian Affairs
and the United States Government Department of the Interior, the school serves grades 9 through 12. The school mascot is the Brave and the school colors are purple and yellow. There are 7 dormitory facilities on the SIHS grounds. The male facilities are Wigwam, Ramona, and Kiva. Female facilities are Wauneka, Dawaki, and Winona. The last dorm is a transition dorm, Hogan. In addition to the seven dorms, there is also a set of 13 honor apartments named Sunset. Only 4 dorms are available for students to live in including Wigwam, Kiva, Dawaki, Ramona, and Winona
SIHS was originally known as the Perris Indian School, which was established in 1892 under the direction of Mr. M. S. Savage. This was the first off-reservation Indian Boarding School in the state of California. The enrollment then consisted of Southern California Indian children from the Tule River Agency to San Diego County
. Students ranged in age from 5 years old to early 20s. The main subjects taught were agriculture and domestic science.
The 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) site in Perris, California
was at the corner of today's Perris Boulevard and Morgan Street. Due to an inadequate water supply to conduct the primary subjects at the school, a better location was sought. By 1901 a site in the City of Riverside was selected, at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Jackson Street. On July 19, 1901, the cornerstone was laid for the new school building of Sherman Institute. Perris Indian School remained in operation until December 1904 when the remaining students were transferred to the Riverside School.
The Mission Revival Style architecture
was considered a novelty when the school was built, and the city promoted the school as one of the landmarks to visit by tourists. To meet earthquake standards, most of the original school buildings were demolished during the 1970s, and new structures were built in their place. The California Native Tribes were required to pay for the demolition and for the new buildings.
During the 2008-09 school year, SIHS administration removed more than 30 staff from their facility, upsetting the students. The students protested, to no effect. Officials stated that there were not enough BIA funds to pay the employees that had been let go. That same year, traditional ceremonies for the school's annual spring pow-wow
were replaced with Christian prayers.
and Riverside city landmark number 16.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for Native Americans
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...
. Originally opened in 1892 as the Perris Indian School, in Perris, California
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
, United States, the school was relocated to Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, in 1903, under the name The Sherman Institute. When the school was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
in 1971, it become known as the Sherman Indian High School.
Operated by the Bureau of Indian Education
Bureau of Indian Education
The Bureau of Indian Education is a division of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It operates tribal schools for Native Americans in the United States. The BIE is headquartered in Washington, DC and runs 59 of the total 183 schools and dormitories it oversees in 23 states. -External links:*...
/Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
and the United States Government Department of the Interior, the school serves grades 9 through 12. The school mascot is the Brave and the school colors are purple and yellow. There are 7 dormitory facilities on the SIHS grounds. The male facilities are Wigwam, Ramona, and Kiva. Female facilities are Wauneka, Dawaki, and Winona. The last dorm is a transition dorm, Hogan. In addition to the seven dorms, there is also a set of 13 honor apartments named Sunset. Only 4 dorms are available for students to live in including Wigwam, Kiva, Dawaki, Ramona, and Winona
History
According to the Sherman Indian Museum, SIHS was founded by the United States Government in order to assimilate Native Americans into the mainstream society.SIHS was originally known as the Perris Indian School, which was established in 1892 under the direction of Mr. M. S. Savage. This was the first off-reservation Indian Boarding School in the state of California. The enrollment then consisted of Southern California Indian children from the Tule River Agency to San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. Students ranged in age from 5 years old to early 20s. The main subjects taught were agriculture and domestic science.
The 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) site in Perris, California
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
was at the corner of today's Perris Boulevard and Morgan Street. Due to an inadequate water supply to conduct the primary subjects at the school, a better location was sought. By 1901 a site in the City of Riverside was selected, at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Jackson Street. On July 19, 1901, the cornerstone was laid for the new school building of Sherman Institute. Perris Indian School remained in operation until December 1904 when the remaining students were transferred to the Riverside School.
The Mission Revival Style architecture
Mission Revival Style architecture
The Mission Revival Style was an architectural movement that began in the late 19th century for a colonial style's revivalism and reinterpretation, which drew inspiration from the late 18th and early 19th century Spanish missions in California....
was considered a novelty when the school was built, and the city promoted the school as one of the landmarks to visit by tourists. To meet earthquake standards, most of the original school buildings were demolished during the 1970s, and new structures were built in their place. The California Native Tribes were required to pay for the demolition and for the new buildings.
During the 2008-09 school year, SIHS administration removed more than 30 staff from their facility, upsetting the students. The students protested, to no effect. Officials stated that there were not enough BIA funds to pay the employees that had been let go. That same year, traditional ceremonies for the school's annual spring pow-wow
Pow-wow
A pow-wow is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American...
were replaced with Christian prayers.
Sherman Indian Museum
The Sherman Museum is currently the school's only original architecture; it was once the school's administration building. The building has been designated a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and Riverside city landmark number 16.
Sherman Cemetery
Because of Bureau of Indian Affairs policies, students did not return home for several years. Those who died were often buried in the school cemetery. May 3 marks an old tradition amongst the local tribes where many local reservations decorate their cemeteries with flowers and replace old crosses. Sherman Indian High School designates this as Indian Flower Day.Annual events
SIHS Annual Powwow and other events: Every year, in mid-April, Sherman hosts a one-day powwow. The event officially ends Sherman's parent-teacher conference week. SIHS holds an annual Talent Show on the Thursday of that week. The Miss Sherman Pageant also occurs during this week annually, traditionally on Friday, the evening before the powwow.Notable faculty and alumi
- Reggie AttacheReggie AttacheReginald Edward Attache , aka Laughing Gas, was a professional football player who played in the National Football League during the 1922 season. That season he joined the NFL's Oorang Indians. The Indians were a team based in LaRue, Ohio, composed only of Native Americans, and coached by Jim...
, professional American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, attended SIHS. - Elmer BuschElmer BuschElmer Eugene "Pete" Busch was a professional football player with the Oorang Indians of National Football League in 1922. He was a Native-American as a member of the Pomo tribe. He played his college football at the Carlisle Indian School...
, professional American football player, attended SIHS from 1907–1910. - Jean FredericksJean FredericksJean Fredericks was a Hopi photographer. He grew up in Old Oraibi, Arizona, a village located on Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation.-Biography:...
, photographer, attended SIHS. - Matthew B. JuanMatthew B. JuanMathew B. Juan - was a Native American hero of World War I who died in the Battle of Cantigny. Juan was the first Arizonan to die in the war.-Biography:...
, SIHS graduate, Native American hero of World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Bemus PierceBemus PierceBemus Pierce was a Native American football guard in the 1890s and 1900s. He played for the great Carlisle Indian School teams from 1894-1898 and later played professional football for the championship teams from the Homestead Library & Athletic Club of 1900 and 1901. He also played for the...
, professional American football player, coached Sherman Braves in 1902 and 1903.