What was meant by the phrase ''Kill the Indian and save the man''?

Answer 1

Ward Churchill, once a professor at Colorado University, is responsible for the slogan. It was actually part of the title of one of his books called, "Kill the Indian, Save the Man: The Genocidal Impact of American Indian Residential Schools."

Answer 2

A very good question. This phrase is an example of one of the most appalling things done to a population outside of genocide. This phrase reflect a goal, which is to assimilate the Aboriginal or "Indian" populations of North America into a European culture, particularly British and French. The word 'kill' means that violence was allowed to achieve this goal. Aboriginal children were taken from their homes at a young age and forced to live at schools, where they were beaten and often tortured if they were ever caught speaking their language of birth or practicing their original faith. Words cannot describe the depth of the damages caused by the actions originating from this phrase. It was especially harmful because of the words "SAVE the man" after "KILL the Indian." Whoever was behind this was able to use these words to legitimate robbing the Aboriginals of all their dignity and aspiration...essentially beating them into nobodies that would not care to claim any land from the United States or Canada. But the words "SAVE the man" were also extremely important because they fooled a generally ignorant public into thinking that the Aboriginals were savages and the schools were going to make them better people and improve their lives.

Answer 3

A very good question. This phrase is an example of one of the most appalling things done to a population outside of genocide. This phrase reflect a goal, which is to assimilate the Aboriginal or "Indian" populations of North America into a European culture, particularly British and French. The word 'kill' means that violence was allowed to achieve this goal. Aboriginal children were taken from their homes at a young age and forced to live at schools, where they were beaten and often tortured if they were ever caught speaking their language of birth or practicing their original faith. Words cannot describe the depth of the damages caused by the actions originating from this phrase. It was especially harmful because of the words "SAVE the man" after "KILL the Indian." Whoever was behind this was able to use these words to legitimate robbing the Aboriginals of all their dignity and aspiration...essentially beating them into nobodies that would not care to claim any land from the United States or Canada. But the words "SAVE the man" were also extremely important because they fooled a generally ignorant public into thinking that the Aboriginals were savages and the schools were going to make them better people and improve their lives.

Answer 4

He is referring to killing the culture, heritage and anything else that is considered "Indian". If that is done then you saved him or so he thought. Its called assimilation and many indigenous peoples have gone through that.

Answer 5

Ward Churchill, once a professor at Colorado University, is responsible for the slogan. It was actually part of the title of one of his books called, "Kill the Indian, Save the Man: The Genocidal Impact of American Indian Residential Schools."