Thank you for sharing this bklynthekat.  I'm aware children were forced to attend white schools and have their hair cut. 

I live very close to the Pauite reservation here in Reno.  I've observed about half the men have short baber shop haircuts and the other men have long hair,  usually tied back.  We also have a reservation at Pyramid Lake.  It's really beautiful.  Has natural rock formations of pyramids in the center of the lake.   The Paiutes own the lake and 1000's of acres surrounding it.  They also own the water that flows from Lake Tahoe thru Reno out to Lake Pyramid.  It's pretty funny when Reno sues for more water.  They always lose!

I thought the long hair was also about a spiritual belief.  Is that not true?

Long hair is good!

Pam

Thank you for sharing about the Native Americans' history. I read a book called Courage Is Like A Wild Horse not long ago written by a Native American woman who was taken from her family, just as you said, and put in an orphanage, later to be adopted by a white family. Her experiences during the time she was in the orphanage were appalling. And I learned things I'd never been aware of. I never knew, for instance, that, similar to the Black Americans, the Native Americans were not allowed to use the same drinking fountains as whites. Fortunately, her adoptive family was very loving and supportive of her heritage. The story needs to be told. Our history books seem to be whitewashed concerning the history of those whose land we now inhabit. God bless you and yours.

Janet