All Indian children were forced to go to boarding school away from their parents. Children were taught to have no respect for Plains Indians way of life and traditions, and were instead brought up as Christians. They were punished if they spoke their own language, or practised their own religion. If Indian parents refused to send their children to school, their foodrations would be withdrawn until they agreed. By 1887, over 2000 Indian children attended 117 boarding schools.
The power and authority of the chiefs was weakened. In the 1880s, the US government set up councils who took over the chiefs power. In 1885, the government took over all legal powers regarding Plains Indians. This meant Plains Indians had lost all power to govern themselves.