Hiawatha (Canton) Asylum for Insane Indians and Dr. Silk's 1929 report: "inexcusable" (Canton, South Dakota, 1902–1933/34)

SUMMARYHiawatha (Canton) Asylum for Insane Indians and Dr. Silk's 1929 report: "inexcusable" (Canton, South Dakota, 1902–1933/34) [Connections: Masonic color line, asylums, castles, wight, Nov 5, 2026]

RECORDThe asylum was authorized by Congress in 1898 at Sen. Richard F. Pettigrew's urging and built 1899–1902 under director Oscar S. Gifford. Dr. Hummer (SDPB: "Harold R. Hummer") took over in 1908; Wikipedia says patients were received from January 1903. Wikipedia, citing the American Journal of Psychiatry (1999), says more than 350 people were held there and "at least 121 died." It says people risked confinement "for alcoholism, opposing government or business interests, or for being culturally misunderstood." It adds that a 1927 Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation found "a large number of patients showed no signs of mental illness." Dr. Samuel Silk reported to the Commissioner of Indian Service on 13 April 1929 (sent through Dr. William A. White, Superintendent of St. Elizabeths Hospital; copy at the South Dakota State Archives, from the National Archives). He found patients who "did not show any active evidence of mental disease." He described restraint in which "One metal ring is applied to the ankle, locked, and the other is applied to some water pipe wherever available." His conclusion: "This condition is inexcusable, and cannot be considered as proper care of mentally sick people." John Collier dismissed Hummer in 1933. In December 1933, 64 patients were moved to St. Elizabeths. A plate lists 121 names, and SDPB says "Their graves occupy a spot between fairways at the local golf course." The Indian Office had decided stone grave markers "would be an unwarranted expense." HOSTILE

WITNESSthe Indian Office ran the asylum, and Silk's report is that office's own inspection

PATTERNA federal "asylum" held people from the nations who were not ill, for resisting or for not fitting in

LENS (WW9)The asylum was a jail for people who refused, and the government's own doctor said so in writing

OPENWhich nations and which commitment papers? The Honoring the Dead archive holds commitment letters. Get the full Silk report (138 KB of text) and NARA RG 75 references. Closure is given as 1933 or 1934 depending on the source

SOURCEHonoring the Dead: 1929 Report of Survey from Dr. Silk; SDPB: The Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians (2018); Wikipedia: Canton Indian Insane Asylum.