Kindergarten Class Picture

Kindergarten Class Picture

The text on the rear of this image reads: "What a picture this is of the self-sacrifice of these good sisters! A dozen of them wash, feed, clothe (and make the clothes), teach, do everything for 125 helpless youngsters." The author of this image reinforces the colonial gaze many of the Sisters and Jesuits held towards children they were suppose to be nurturing. Language like "helpless" and "self-sacrifice" prove many missionaries did not consider the Native American's to be self-sufficient in many tasks they never asked for help in such as "making the clothes" that, in actuality, aimed to assimilate the Native peoples.

St. Ignatius Mission Collection, Jesuit Oregon Province Archives

Contact the Jesuit Oregon Province Archives, at Gonzaga University, for permission to copy or publish this image.

JPG.

Still Image.