"We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child."

Delila
Part Time Indian
5/13/13


               When Mr. P says, "We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child (p. 35)." he wasn't talking about literally killing the Indian.  He was stating that by forcing the Indian child to forget or to throw away his or her culture, they will be saved.  "We were supposed to make you give up being Indian.  Your songs and stories and language and dancing.  Everything (p. 35)."  This means that after their culture was destroyed, the Indian person would have more of a potential which will lead them to more opportunities.  Mr. P and his co-workers believed that their culture is what is holding Indian people back from having a successful future.  They thought that by taking that restriction away, they would allow these children to strive.  Even though their motive was a good one, these teachers and leaders ended up taking away everything that made the Indians unique.  They took away the Indian's pride for their heritage and beliefs, and their knowledge of their culture.
              Later, Mr. P learned that Indians are smart and do have the potential to flourish.  Their culture does not have to be covered up because they have the ability to do great things.  For example, Junior's sister, was very intelligent and had the skill to become a writer, even though she was an Indian.  She did not have to be American to do great things.  Overall, "killing the Indian" does not in fact save the child because the child doesn't need to be saved in the first place.  They have all it takes to become successful, and their unique culture does not need to be taken away in order for them to do so.