Commentary
7 February 2022
The Collegian: 5
Catholic Church reviews involvement in Residential Schools
Oklahoma’s Catholic leaders desire to learn from tribal groups. Logan Guthrie Commentary Editor
courtesy @NY_Arch on Twitter
St. Kateri was known as the “Lily of the Mohawks.” She represents all tribes as the patron saint of Native Americans as well as environmentalism.
Dec. 25 7:25 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security Officers dispatched to Mayo Village apartments on report of suspicious activity. Officers arrived at the apartment where the suspicious activity was reported and determined it had been burglarized. Officers made contact with the resident of the apartment and collected a witness statement. The victim was advised to file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Dec. 29 10:15 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mabee East lot on report of an injured person. Officers arrived and met with a non-University of Tulsa affiliate who had fallen and injured themselves while putting their wheelchair inside their vehicle. Communications Center contacted Emergency Medical Services (EMSA). EMSA conducted a medical assessment and determined the individual was well enough to drive home. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant and Athletics for their review. Jan. 5 4:40 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the University Square West Apartments regarding a burglary. Officers made contact with the resident who stated the apartment had been pilfered. It was determined by the resident a printer was missing. The resident will file a Tulsa Police report. Copy of this report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Jan. 9 12:55 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mayo Village Lot in reference to an automobile burglary. Officers examined the vehicle and discovered the vehicle had damages to the vehicle window. The ignition of vehicle was damaged which indicated an attempted motor vehicle theft. The victim requested the Tulsa Police Department contacted to complete a report as well. No items were reported stolen. Copy of report forwarded to Housing, Physical Plant and Student Affairs for their review.
There is no question that horrible things were done in the name of “civilization” in the continent of North America, especially to the Native American peoples. One of the most horrendous were the Native American boarding schools, or as they are often known today, the Native American residential schools. These schools operated from 1869 to the 1960s, hoping to produce economically self-sufficient students with hard work ethics and possessive individualism, meaning that the individual is the only owner of their skills and therefore doesn’t owe anything to anyone for said skills. In the vast majority of cases these schools forced the assimilation of Native students into a culture, language and way of life these children had not chosen for themselves.
project with the desire to better understand this tragic history and the experiences of the Native American peoples affected. In this amazing effort of collaboration with Professor Bryan Rindfleisch at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.—an expert in American Indian history—the two dioceses have gathered oral histories from the former students at these schools and their descendants, studying the documentation from the schools’ operation in the hopes of working in unity with the tribes to find a path to healing. Amy Warne of Oklahoma City recently spoke at Sacred Heart Church in Konawa in reference to the residential schools, and the points she raised need to be taken to heart. Catholics would be up in arms if they were
“... the two dioceses have gathered oral histories from the former students at these schools and their descendants ...” While many had good intentions with this educational system, the fruit of their labors were sour, a cultural and literal genocide. To this day, few records remain extant as to how many schools were in operation, causing trauma and pain for generations to come. The Catholic Church shares their own portion of blame in this tragic part of North American history, and any Catholic that says otherwise is either misinformed or lying to themselves in order to avoid the possibility that people in the Church could do bad things. There are many Catholic leaders, however, who have answered the call, recognizing the need for healing and reconciliation for the next generations of Native Americans that have to live with this dark piece of their heritage. As of Nov. 2021, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in collaboration with the Diocese of Tulsa launched a new
Jan. 11 12:00 a.m. Report of Dating Violence Jan. 14 8:15 p.m. While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers observed an individual peeping into an open window of a sorority house. Officers determined the individual was affiliated with the university and advised the affiliate to cease any further activity. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. 10:00 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Mayo Village Apartments to investigate an anonymous noise complaint. Officers observed loud music, open alcoholic beverages and underaged university affiliates at the reported residence. Officers cleared the apartment, disposed of the alcohol and referred the incident in accordance with the University drug and alcohol policy. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Jan. 16 2:10 a.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers conducting an end of event walk-through at the Kappa Alpha fraternity discovered an intoxicated underage student. Emergency Services Medical Authority and Tulsa Fire Department personnel were contacted and responded. The student was cleared medically and refused transportation to a hospital. The student was referred for a conduct violation. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Jan. 18 3:25 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers met with a university affiliate reporting they were being harassed online and around campus. Officers collected a statement and the victim advised they filed a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review. Jan. 21 3:10 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to the Prac-
forbidden to pray rosaries or make the sign of the cross, from expressing their faith even in the most basic of forms. It would be religious and cultural discrimination—there is no doubt of that. Native American culture and rituals, and the basics of their way of life deserve to be treated with the same level of respect. This seems to be something that the Catholic authorities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa have taken to heart. According to Archbishop of Oklahoma City Paul Coakley, “It is important we learn and understand the experiences of American Indian children and their families at Catholic boarding schools in Oklahoma so we can make better and more informed decisions moving forward. We will continue to build a culture of inclusion, healing and understanding related to Native American Catholics in our state.” Bishop of Tulsa David Konderla has also said, “It is by under-
courtesy @ArchbishopOKC on Twitter Archbishop Coakley (left) and Bishop Konderla (right) have worked together with their communities to bring healing to those hurt by the Catholic Church.
standing the past that we are able to improve and build on good ideas in the present and, where necessary, make amends for failures in the past.” We must learn from the past so that we will not make the same mistakes in the future. This project is a beautiful act of good faith on the part of the local Catholic dioceses of Oklahoma, extending their hand in hopes of unity and love, as well as healing and reconciliation. It is wonderful to see that they truly desire to learn from the Native American experience, and to make their voices heard in their faith communities.
tice Soccer Field at 8th Delaware on report of grand larceny. Victims advised the suspect ran up to the top of the hill next to the practice field and stole their backpacks that were sitting on the hill. The suspect then ran to a vehicle where their driver was waiting and drove south off campus. Both victims advised they would file a report with the Tulsa Police Department. Copy of report forwarded to Physical Plant, Athletics and Student Affairs for their review.
nessed an individual being assisted out of a fraternity house by two other individuals. Officers determined the individual, who was not affiliated with the university, was intoxicated and under the legal drinking age. The intoxicated individual declined assistance from the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Officers attended to the intoxicated individual until they were given a ride off campus. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.
Jan. 25 4:45 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to investigate a suspicious person at the Sigma Chi fraternity. Officers made contact with the suspicious person and determined they were not a TU affiliate. The subject was not trespass warned. A contact card was created. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.
11:10 p.m. University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers were dispatched to Club Mabee in John Mabee Hall on report of underage drinking. Officers made contact with the reporting party and one of the reported individuals. The incident is under investigation at this time. Copy of report forwarded to Housing and Student Affairs for their review.
Jan. 29 1:55 a.m. While on routine patrol, University of Tulsa Campus Safety and Security officers wit-
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