What does it mean to kill the Indian and save the child?

The phrase "kill the Indian and save the child" refers to a historical policy aimed at assimilating Indigenous peoples in North America and other regions. It symbolizes the attempt to eradicate Indigenous cultures, identities, and ways of life while supposedly "saving" Indigenous children by forcing them into Western education and societal norms. This phrase underscores the violent consequences of colonialism and the trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities through such assimilation practices.