COLLABORATING WITH THE SAC AND FOX COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT THE PAST AND CHART A FUTURE FOR THE SAC AND FOX MISSION BOARDING SCHOOL

Abstract

This thesis explores the history and legacy of the Sac and Fox Mission School (1872-1917) through community-engaged research grounded in oral histories, archival investigation, and site-based collaboration. By centering the voices of Sac and Fox community members, this project surfaces stories of silence, loss, and rediscovery that have long been obscured in official records. Many community members and interviewees were unaware of their relatives' attendance at the school until shown archival materials, revealing the profound emotional weight of reconnecting with fragmented family histories. Themes such as language loss, cultural disruption, and intergenerational disconnection emerged alongside expressions of strength and curiosity. The project also highlights the importance of material culture, the landscape as a living archive, and the need for respectful stewardship of school records. Guided by the principles of community-based archaeology and the “archaeology of the heart”, this work underscores the value of collaboration, care, and continued dialogue in addressing the histories of boarding schools. Ultimately, it seeks to contribute to community healing while offering a model for ethical, relational research within and beyond the academy.