Rustbelt Legacy: Relocation

A Place Created....

Palimpsest Books

Relocation

Palimpsest

About the Project

Rustbelt Blog

  The Photographs Stories of Relocation Archives
Relocation Installation

Relocation Installation, 2011 The Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland

Return to top    

In the 1950s, the U.S. Government began two programs to cope with "the Indian problem"; Termination and Relocation. Under the American Indian Relocation Program, Native Americans from tribes all over the country were promised job training, aid in moving from their reservations to urban industrial centers, and housing once they arrived. The program created "the greatest migration of Native People" in American history. The reality of the program was far worse than what had been promised; often the training was inadequate, many were given a one-way ticket to the new city with no means of returning to the reservation, they were placed in public housing that had already fallen into decay, and there was little social support for the recently arrived. As tribes were split apart, often relocatees found themselves surrounded by people who did not speak their language. The installation began out of our recognition of the trauma and impact of Relocation on Native American Indians, and our ignorance of this history.

 

Relocation Installation

Detail of Relocation installation

Return to top    

Relocation Installation

Detail of Relocation installation

Return to top    

Detail of Photograph from Cuyahoga County Archives

Detail of photo-strip of books from the Cuyahoga County Archives

Return to top    

Photographs From Relocation Installtion

Detail of Relocation installation

Return to top    

Photographs From Relocation Installation

Detail of Relocation installation

Return to top