Haskell Indian Nations University: A History of Transformation
Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), located in Lawrence, Kansas, stands as a unique institution with a complex and evolving history. Founded in 1884 as the United States Indian Industrial Training School, Haskell's mission has transformed over the decades from forced assimilation to a center for Native American education, research, and cultural preservation. Today, HINU is a public tribal land-grant university serving members of federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States, offering both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Origins and Early Years: Assimilation and Industrial Training
In the late 19th century, the U.S. government sought to address the "Indian Problem" through education, viewing it as the fastest and most complete means of assimilation. This led to the establishment of off-reservation boarding schools, with the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania serving as the model. Haskell, originally named the United States Indian Industrial Training School, opened on September 17, 1884, with the goal of assimilating tribal children into mainstream American society.
The school's location in Lawrence was secured through the efforts of a Kansas representative. Initially, twelve students were brought to Haskell as part of a feasibility test, required to stay for a minimum of one four-year term, though many remained for three or four terms. These children were forbidden from returning home or having any family contact during their enrollment.
Upon arrival, students were stripped of their traditional clothing and belongings. Their hair was cut short in a military style, a particularly painful experience for boys, as long hair held cultural significance in many tribes. Organized under a semi-military system inspired by Carlisle, students wore uniforms and marched to classes, further reinforcing conformity. Severe physical and emotional consequences were imposed for failing to abide by these new rules, and students often faced inadequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention.
The curriculum initially focused on industrial training. Boys were taught trades such as tailoring, wagon making, blacksmithing, harness making, painting, shoe making, and farming, reflecting the skills needed in their mostly rural and small-town reservation environments. Girls studied cooking, sewing, and homemaking. Much of the food for the school was produced on the associated Haskell farm, with students assigned various duties throughout the institute.
Read also: A Look at Haskell Indian Nations University
In 1887, the school's name was changed to Haskell Institute in honor of Dudley C. Haskell, a former Kansas representative and U.S. Congressman who had been instrumental in establishing the school. By 1894, enrollment had grown to 606 Native students representing 36 states. Despite being advertised as a vocational school, underfunding led to educational goals becoming secondary, with students spending much of their time laboring to keep the school operational.
The Early 20th Century: Evolution and Recognition
In the early 20th century, Haskell continued to evolve under federal government operation. The curriculum expanded to include upper grades, and in 1927, Haskell received accreditation as a Kansas high school. The Meriam Report of 1928 highlighted the issues of infectious disease in residential schools, often caused by insufficient funding for nutrition, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and students weakened by overwork.
From the 1900s through the 1930s, Haskell gained recognition for its athletic programs, particularly its football team. In 1926, the school dedicated its football stadium, the first lighted stadium in the Midwest. Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox), considered one of the greatest multisport athletes of all time, attended Haskell Institute. The Haskell band also achieved renown, performing at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the 1905 World's Fair in St. Louis.
During World War I, Haskell, like Carlisle, took pride in its students' military service. War news was regularly reported in the school's weekly publication, The Indian Leader. Each weekly issue featured a recurring column titled "History in the Making," providing a daily timeline of war events for educators interested in teaching current events. The weekly issues were usually four or eight pages long, while the monthly issues could extend to twenty-four pages or longer. Other columns included reports from other Indian boarding schools like Hampton Institute in Virginia and Chemawa in Oregon.
The Cloud Era: A Shift Towards Cultural Preservation
A significant turning point for Haskell came in 1933 with the appointment of Dr. Henry Roe Cloud as the first Native American Superintendent of Haskell Institute. Dr. Cloud, a Winnebago from Nebraska and the first Native American graduate of Yale University, transformed Haskell's environment from one of militaristic assimilation to one that emphasized reorganization and the emergence of an Indigenous voice.
Read also: Cultural Immersion at Haskell
Under Dr. Cloud's leadership, Haskell began to stress the importance of teaching traditional forms of art and skills as early as 1934. By 1935, changes began to emerge within the vocational and technical training offered as part of its curriculum. Various clubs, activities, and societies began to form, and the students rapidly achieved academic excellence. By 1942, tribal students attended Haskell willingly.
Mid-20th Century: Expansion and Transition
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Haskell underwent a number of expansive building projects, though some of the oldest and most historic structures were lost due to fire. During the 1960s, Native Americans organized to assert their cultures and work to realign the relationships between federally recognized tribes and the federal government. Among the areas they wanted to change was education of their children, and they were encouraged by the civil rights movement of African Americans to press for fulfillment of treaty conditions.
In 1967, Haskell was renamed Haskell Indian Junior College, authorized to award associate degrees and certificates in special skills programs. Two years later, Wallace Galluzzi became president of Haskell Indian Junior College, serving until 1981. As a junior college, Haskell offered associate's degrees in fields such as Business, Nursing, American Indian Studies, and Printing.
Haskell Indian Nations University: A New Era
In 1993, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Ada Deer, approved the development of Haskell into a university, building on expansions of curricula and programs. This led to the institution's renaming as Haskell Indian Nations University. In 1998, the University graduated the first Elementary Education majors in its baccalaureate program.
At the turn of the 21st century, Haskell had become a tribal-based university with a curriculum serving general Native American and Alaska Native goals. Haskell offers four baccalaureate degree programs and four associate degrees. In 2022 the school's graduation was 45%, per the 2023 IPEDS Data Feedback Report published by the Institute of Education Science.
Read also: Applying for the Sam Haskell Scholarship
Haskell offers associate of arts (AA) degrees in a variety of fields, including: Communication Studies, Liberal Arts, Media Communication, Para Professional Education, and Social Work. This program provides an integrated foundation of interdisciplinary knowledge and the practical skills needed to contribute to the development of Indigenous American Indian and Alaska Native communities and nations. The School of Business offers the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with emphases in management or tribal management. The management track emphasizes traditional academic study of contemporary management practices and theories common to the management of human, financial, technical, natural, and other resources. Education majors complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education; they must pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) and Elementary Education exam to be eligible to apply for Kansas provisional licensure to teach kindergarten through the sixth grade. This program provides a broad-based background to prepare students for graduate school or a career in environmental or biological fields.
Campus and Cultural Resources
Haskell is home to several significant cultural and historical resources, including the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum, which provides exhibits about the school's history. The renowned Rinehart Collection is housed in the Haskell Cultural Center. Numerous sculptures and murals are located throughout the campus.
The Haskell Medicine Wheel Earthwork, located south of the campus, symbolizes the scope and richness of indigenous cultures, from the beginning of humankind to the present. The circle represents the perpetual and sacredness of the spirituality of native peoples. The spokes represent the four directions. The circle marks the astrological locations of the Summer and Winter solstice and represent the death, rebirth, balance and healing in Mother Earth. The bear claw represents the strength needed for the survival of indigenous people.
The Haskell-Baker Wetlands span approximately 640 acres (260 ha) on the south side of the Haskell campus. These wetlands are home to 243 species of birds, 21 species of fish, 22 species of reptiles, and 26 species of plants. This area serves as a feeding and breeding ground for the migratory birds that breed in Canada and migrate to Mexico and South America.
Several historic buildings are located on the Haskell campus, including:
Hiawatha Hall: Originally constructed in 1898 and dedicated on March 12, 1899, Hiawatha Hall was named after the historic Onondaga leader of the same name.
Osceola and Keokuk Halls: Constructed in 1884, Osceola and Keokuk served as dormitories for men and women, respectively. Osceola was a famous Seminole warrior, whose name means "Rising Sun". Osceola and Keokuk Halls are collectively known as O-K Hall.
Pocahontas Hall: Built in 1931 and named after the daughter of Powhatan, paramount chief of the Powhatan confederacy.
Pontiac Hall: Built in 1934, Pontiac Hall was named after an Ottawa chief.
Powhatan Hall: Constructed in 1932 and named after the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, made up of 30 Algonquian-speaking tribes in coastal Virginia.
Roe Cloud Hall: Completed in 1997, Roe Cloud Hall was named after Henry Roe Cloud, a member of the Winnebago Nation. He was the first American Indian superintendent of the Haskell Institute, serving from 1933 to 1935. Roe Cloud later served in the presidential administrations of Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Sequoyah Hall: Built in 1961 and named for Sequoyah, the Cherokee who developed a syllabary writing system for the Cherokee language in the early 19th century; this was the first known independent development of a writing system.
Tecumseh Hall: Built in 1915 as a gymnasium, Tecumseh Hall was named after the Shawnee chief who led an effort to repulse the European-American settlers from Indian territory west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Winona Hall: Originally constructed in 1897, Winona Hall was rebuilt in 1962. The name Winona in Lakota tradition is for daughters who are the first-born child of the family.
Athletics
The Haskell (HINU) athletic teams are called the Fighting Indians. The school's team colors are purple, gold and white. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference since the 2015â16 academic year. HINU competes in 11 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, golf and track & field (indoor and outdoor); women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Club sports include baseball and boxing.
Recent Challenges
The university faced national scrutiny in 2024 after a Bureau of Indian Education report revealed that university officials routinely failed to report or adequately respond to sexual harassment and assault complaints. The investigation found that studentsâ reports of sexual abuse were often ignored, and in some cases, survivors were denied support or faced retaliation, including expulsion following academic struggles related to their experiences. The BIE report also documented that accused individuals were sometimes allowed to remain on campus and that staff accused of misconduct were reassigned rather than disciplined.
In early 2025, Haskell Indian Nations University laid off dozens of employees after federal orders.
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