Suits claim Indian school abuses

By Chet Brokaw, Associated Press Writer | Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

PIERRE - Former students who allege they were abused at Indian boarding schools in South Dakota are suing the Roman Catholic Church and the religious organizations that ran the schools.

The lawsuits, which seek damages for students allegedly hurt at St. Paul's School in Marty and St. Francis Mission School on Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, will be filed in state circuit courts today in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, according to Gary Frischer, a legal consultant in the cases.

Many of the same former students are plaintiffs in a similar lawsuit filed last year against the federal government. That lawsuit contends that the federal government failed in its duty under treaties to protect the Indian students who were sent to boarding schools nationwide.

The lawsuits to be filed today seek damages from the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls and the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City in addition to organizations that provided priests and nuns to work in the schools, which were transferred to tribal control about three decades ago.

The lawsuits allege that the religious organizations were negligent in hiring, retaining and supervising staff at the schools. They also argue the organizations failed to protect students from abuse or investigate misconduct at the schools.

Jerry Klein, chancellor of the Sioux Falls diocese, said he could not respond until he had seen the actual lawsuit.

"It's difficult to respond very specifically when we haven't seen what's really being claimed," Klein said. "We'll take a look at it as we're able to and try to respond appropriately."

Sharon Zeller, communications director of the Rapid City diocese, said she also would not comment until church officials have seen the lawsuit.

The lawsuit involving the St. Francis Mission School was filed by 16 former students, and the lawsuit dealing with St. Paul's in Marty was filed by 57 former students.

"All of the Plaintiffs were beaten and tortured, including physical, mental and emotional abuse. Many of the children were sexually assaulted and raped," according to both lawsuits.

Boarding schools for Indian students were created in the late 1800s and early 1900s in an attempt to assimilate young Indians into white society. The schools were closed or transferred to tribal control by the 1970s.

The lawsuits contend that students at the boarding schools were beaten if they spoke their native language or practiced any element of their native culture. Students involved in the lawsuits have said they were beaten or sexually molested while attending the schools.

The lawsuit involving the St. Paul's School in Marty names the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls; Blue Cloud Abbey of northeastern South Dakota; Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, based in Pennsylvania; and Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Marty.

The lawsuit regarding the St. Francis school names the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City; the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus; the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity of Stella Niagra, N.Y.; and School Sisters of St. Francis.