The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Jim Thorpe Center for the Futures of Native Peoples took place at Dickinson College on Saturday, marking a significant step in honoring the legacy of Native American students who attended the historically significant Carlisle Indian Industrial School. A gathering of Native American visitors, college leaders, and local residents participated in the blessing of the ground, which will soon host the center dedicated to cultural revitalization and indigenous-focused research.
Architect Johnpaul Jones, who is also the lead design consultant for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., emphasized the importance of respecting the land before construction begins. During the ceremony, he presented a blessing that reflected the deep connection Native peoples have with the Earth. “We are making a pact with a living thing, giving it a new purpose,” he stated, urging respect for the site as they prepare to build.
The new center aims to provide a space for intergenerational knowledge-sharing and to foster a sense of community among Native Americans, transforming a location long associated with trauma into one that supports healing and cultural pride. This initiative is particularly poignant given Carlisle’s historical role in the federal boarding school system, which sought to assimilate Native youth and erase their cultures.
Among the attendees were several descendants of Jim Thorpe, the renowned athlete and Native American icon. His granddaughter, Mary Thorpe, expressed her gratitude for the recognition of her family’s legacy. “There’s a lot of emotion that you go through coming up here,” she said. “You’re a survivor of children that were meant to be broken. You come back here and you’re trying to heal some of that generational trauma.”
For over a century, Carlisle has been viewed as a symbol of pain for many Native Americans. The school was designed to strip away indigenous identities, which has had a profound impact on the communities involved. Amanda Cheromiah, the executive director of Dickinson’s existing Center for the Futures of Native Peoples, remarked that the new center represents a celebration of survival and resilience. It is intended to counteract the historical narrative associated with the location, creating an environment that fosters cultural expression through symposiums, art exhibits, and ceremonial gatherings.
The ceremonial ground blessing was led by Perry Martinez, a tribal council member from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. He highlighted the significance of acknowledging the Earth as a living entity. This practice reaffirms humanity’s connection to nature and emphasizes respect for the land.
As the ceremony concluded, attendees reflected on the resilience of Native peoples. “It just shows that Pratt didn’t succeed in killing the Indian,” Mary Thorpe said, referring to the historical figures associated with the boarding school system. “We’re still here.”
The Jim Thorpe Center is set to become an essential resource that honors Native American culture and supports the community’s future, ensuring that the painful legacy of the past can lead to a hopeful and vibrant future. Through this initiative, Dickinson College aims to contribute positively to the well-being of Native Americans for generations to come.
