Everyone is welcome to attend.
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The manual training building as it appears today. The building houses the foundation's Interpretive Center. Photos provided
The manual training building as it appears today. The building houses the foundation's Interpretive Center. Photos provided -
Entrance stile which led to the ballfields of the Genoa US Indian Industrial School. Photos provided
Entrance stile which led to the ballfields of the Genoa US Indian Industrial School. Photos provided
The gathering will begin with remarks from foundation members in the St. Rose of Lima Community Center at 116 N. Elm St. in Genoa. The day’s activities include educational presentations and exhibits, tours of the Interpretive Center (with over 40 Indigenous Nation Flags), a research center with resources for genealogical research, and Indigenous jewelry and crafts (call 308-991-5360 to reserve a table).
Presentations begin with history student Anna Johnson presenting Genoa Industrial School: Cultural Genocide on the American Frontier at 10:15 am, followed by a Memorial presentation at 11:00 and the Genoa Indian School Foundation/Wolfe Family Scholarship presentation. Lunch is from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm with Indian Tacos made by descendant Jan Ellston and served by Twin River FBLA (free to honored guests and $8.50 for others).
Following lunch, Nebraska State Archaeologist Dave Williams provides an update on the cemetery, followed by a sharing time at 2 pm. Descendants share memories of GIS and their loved ones who attended. An ice cream social closes out the day’s activities at 3 pm.
All-day exhibits include original GIS student artwork and athletic trophies courtesy of History Nebraska and WE’RE STILL HERE: The story of Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation High School students’ journey to Genoa. A research center (with researchers to assist) is available for descendants to gather information about their loved ones. Photos of the school and documents related to GIS are also available for viewing. We invite descendants to learn more about their family members who attended GIS.
Tours of the Interpretive Center (located next to the church hall) occur all day. The US Indian Industrial School at Genoa (1884-1934) was the fourth-largest non-reservation boarding school established by the United States Office of Indian Affairs. Students originated from more than ten states and over forty tribes. In time, the school grew from 74 students to an enrollment of 599 in a single year, encompassing over 30 buildings on 640 acres. Tribal nations sent their flag and or seal to honor their GIS students. View these flags along with learning about the history of the school.
This gathering is free and open to the public. All are encouraged to attend to learn about the history of the US federal boarding school system and those who attended Genoa. We welcome all descendants and families to participate in the remembrance ceremony and to connect with their loved ones. Visit us on genoaindianschoolmuseum.org or Facebook for background information. For more information, call 402-993-6036 or 402-993-6055.