The Federal Government established the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS) to educate Native American children from tribes throughout the Southwestern United States.

The purpose of creating SFIS was an attempt to assimilate the Native American children into the wider United States culture and economy.

[5] The original concept of the Indian boarding school began as a social experiment predating the Civil War.

Around the 1860s, the United States federal government created day schools to educate children about Western civilization.

Deciding to extend the experiment further, Pratt was able to convince Native American families to allow their children to attend his boarding school.

[8] The students were stripped of all traces of what their culture was, such as: their long hair, their clothing, and their native language.

[9] Having to deal with the oppression of the school and lack of contact from their families, the students were struck with a feeling of loneliness.

[14] Seeing the success of the Rough Rock Demonstration School, a report was filed in 1969 entitled "Indian Education: A National Tragedy, A National Challenge", which stated that the U.S. government's assimilation policy "has had disastrous effects on the education of Indian children".

[10] The federal government established the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS) in 1890 to educate Native American children from tribes throughout the Southwestern United States.

The purpose of creating SFIS was an attempt to assimilate the Native American children into the wider United States culture and economy.

Dunn left in 1937, and was replaced by Gerónima Cruz Montoya of Ohkay Owingeh, who taught until the program closed in 1962, with the opening of the Institute of American Indian Arts.

School officials stated: "After completing various assessments over the past five years, the Santa Fe Indian School exercised its sovereign authority and due diligence to take action by demolishing buildings to remove the imminent health, safety, and security threats to protect the students and staff of SFIS, including the general public".

"A Pueblo governor reportedly called the demolition of the buildings 'a spiritual cleansing' for his people".

[20] "Spiritual cleansing" was desired by the Pueblo Tribes after years of attending Indian Boarding Schools and assimilating to different ideals.

The rebuilding of the school was a collaborative design build project between Albuquerque offices of Flintco Construction and ASCG.

To create a welcoming, home-like environment, SFIS included fireplaces in the dorms and classrooms.

SFIS believes creating a familiar environment will prevent students from becoming homesick and possibly reduce the dropout rate.

"A crucial factor in the project's success was sighting the school buildings to replicate a pueblo village while preserving views with religious significance ....

Joseph Abeyta, the Director of the SFIS at the time, believed that these new renovations were their chance to take back ownership of the school and what it represents.

[23] The strong relationship the school has with its tribal communities and parents is a fundamental aspect of the SFIS experience.

With enhancing the educational experience and developing a new style of teaching, SFIS is looking to capitalize on the opportunities at hand and incorporate more technology into their plans.

The SHP is designed to teach seniors necessary project skills in a way that helps their community address current problems.