The Associated Press
MARTY [SD] - A Catholic church that ran a boarding school for nearly 30 years is asking forgiveness from American Indians for harsh disciplinary practices by former administrators.

The public apology came during a Good Friday service at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Sister Miriam Shindelar, who has served at Marty for 34 years, said the service came after she conducted interviews and counseling sessions with members of the congregation. But mostly, she said, "It was a result of my own prayer time."

St. Paul's operated the school from 1948-75.

Former administrators and others have been accused of beating and humiliating students through physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse. Students were forced to observe Catholic religious practices and made to kneel for hours. Those who rebelled were severely punished.

The service addressed the abuses suffered by students at the hands of "sisters, priests and brothers who served here throughout the years," according to the bulletin for the service. "It was by some of them that harsh and unfair punishments were given; it was by some of them that physical abuse was a reality, and it was through some of them that fear and guilt were experienced long after leaving Marty."

Shindelar said the service was part of a healing process for both the church and community. It was shared with St. Mark's Parish in Lake Andes.

About 80 percent of those who belong to or attend St. Paul's Church are Indian, said Shindelar.

The stations of the cross were observed at various buildings on the campus of the Marty Indian School, in addition to the Yankton Sioux Tribal Hall, the convent and the cemetery.

The apology, which was repeated at each of stations, asked for "forgiveness from those we have wounded and injured."

Former students have been reluctant to talk publicly about incidents at the school, but one elder recounted a story of beating with a strap on both her forearms that resulted in large welts for her and her classmates.

Male students said they were forced to cut their hair, disavowing an important sign of their spiritual beliefs, and children were not allowed to dress in traditional clothing or speak their native language.

John Wright, a student from 1951-1958, said he was pleased with the service. "It gives people a chance to put away the anger and hurt and move into the future. I think they should take it a step further and put a lot of money into the tribe so we can use it to solve some the social and other problems that resulted in the breakup of the families."

Others said a request for forgiveness was not enough.

"There are some people in our community who do not like the Catholic Church or who have no appreciation for it because of what they did to us and are still doing to us," former student Roxanne Spotted Eagle said. "And they believe if they really do want forgiveness, then they will just move out of there and leave us alone."

Shindelar hopes the congregation will begin followup programs such as counseling to help former students. "It can't just be a one-time thing. We need to use our resources to continue to stand up for truth and justice," she said.

[From: Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. April 15, 1998.]