Pierre Indian Learning Center

Pierre Indian Learning Center (PILC), also known as Pierre Indian School Learning Center, is a grade 1-8 tribal boarding school in Pierre, South Dakota. It is affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).{{cite web|url=https://www.bie.edu/schools/directory/pierre-indian-school-learning-center|title=Pierre Indian School Learning Center|publisher=Bureau of Indian Education|accessdate=2021-08-06}}

History

The PILC opened on February 5, 1891, with five students. Crystal Lindell of the Capital Journal wrote that "The Pierre Indian Learning Center might never have been built had the people of Pierre not been fighting to make the city the state capital."{{cite news|last=Lindell|first=Crystal|url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/presentation-explores-history-of-pilc/article_b9a5b79c-eab7-5d6e-ba7d-b92746b981f2.html|title=Presentation explores history of PILC|newspaper=Capital Journal|date=2007-10-21|accessdate=2021-08-06}} In 1895 The Superintendents of the Indian schools at Pipestone, MN and Pierre S.D. both went to the White Earth Reservation looking to enroll students.White Earth News, The Thirteen Towns, Mar, 1, 1895, p.2, Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub, 2024, MNHS, 345 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul MN [https://newspapers.mnhs.org/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=a38974cb-b1d5-4a68-bfec-d779b89054c8%2Fmnhi0031%2F1HM8RN59%2F95030101] In 1904 the federal government bought an additional {{convert|300|acre|ha}} of land for the school's use. In 1908 the enrollment count was 156. Eddie Welch, a PhD student in American Indian studies from Pierre who worked on a thesis related to the school, stated that at the time the education of the school did not prepare its graduates to get jobs.

In October 1988 a group attending a meeting with 150 people, including ex-employees, asked the tribes that collectively control the school to remove board members and the school administrator due to various issues. In October 1988 a dormitory supervisor was fired for sending public letters addressing the issue.{{cite news|title=Former employees criticize Pierre Indian Learning Center|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|place=Sioux City, Iowa|date=1988-10-16|page=A6}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82923486/for-pilc/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com. The former dormitory supervisor filed a lawsuit against the school on the basis that his freedom of speech was violated. In November 1988 the school settled the lawsuit, which meant the employee was not automatically retained but could re-apply for a job if he wanted to.{{cite news|title=Indian school, former employee reach settlement|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|place=Rapid City, South Dakota|date=1988-12-16|page=B3}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82922613/for-pierre-indian-learning-center/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com.

In 2017, a family of a girl who attempted suicide and later died in the hospital in 2015 filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Education in federal court.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Stephen|url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/family-of-late-student-at-pierre-indian-learning-center-sues-feds-over-girl-s-2015/article_ae6458d0-afda-11e7-9bba-7366218f2cf4.html|title=Family of late student at Pierre Indian Learning Center sues feds over girl’s 2015 death |newspaper=Capital Journal|date=2017-10-13|accessdate=2021-08-06}}

Campus

Dormitory students are put into separate wings by gender and by elementary and middle school levels, so there are a total of four wings.{{cite web|url=https://pilc.k12.sd.us/residential/aboutresidential/|title=About Residential|publisher=Pierre Indian Learning Center|accessdate=2021-08-06}}

Student body

In 2017 it had about 200 students from, in addition to South Dakota: Nebraska and North Dakota. Students originated from 15 reservations. Stephen Lee of the Capital Journal wrote that "Many of the students have special needs or are considered “at-risk” students."