Pipestone Training School was established in 1894 to provide academic instruction and occupational training to Native children. The majority of the children were Ojibwa, but the student body became more diverse over the years. The author of this book is Chippewa and recounts his time as a student at Pipestone. It is clear that he did not have an easy life, but his outlook and recollections really show him to be a grateful and positive person.
 
This book is currently available to listen to on Audible Plus. It was around five hours long, and I completed it just after my lunch break today. The physical copy is less than 300 pages. I was actually quite surprised by this book. I assumed that it would be filled with horrific stories like those that came out of Carlisle survivors. The author of this book recounts many of his memories of his time at the school in a positive way. It goes to show you that people often have different perceptions of experiences. The author also gave an interesting perspective about how beneficial the school was for many children. I was genuinely surprised to learn that some people were grateful for the experience of these schools, and really saw the good that it was meant to accomplish. There are so many horror stories of the abuse, assault, murder and forced assimilation of Native children. I would never presume to tell someone how to feel about their own experience, though I am a firm believer that forced assimilation is an unacceptable practice of cultural genocide. I am glad that not everyone experienced the things that so many others have. This was a really good book, and I am glad I got to read it.