Native American assimilation

Native American assimilation refers to the process by which Indigenous peoples adopted the cultural, social, and economic practices of the broader American society, often through policies that aimed to integrate or "civilize" them. This included sending Native children to boarding schools to abandon their languages and traditions, encouraging adoption of Western clothing and religion, and promoting economic practices aligned with mainstream society. The goal was often to reduce Native cultural identities and integrate individuals into the dominant culture, which led to significant loss of indigenous languages, customs, and traditions, impacting Native communities' self-determination and cultural heritage.