-
Major Accomplishments
LinkAbstract art: Native Americans have been credited with the first ever created Abstract art paintings.
Anesthetics: Native Americans used many different plants to enduce loss of sensation or conciosness such as peyote, coca, and datura. Avacado: Native Americans were the first humans to cultivate the avacado. -
Main Leader: Russell Means
Russell Means was an Oglala Sioux activist who became a leader in the AIM, appointed as their first national director.
He spoke on the unfair rights and treatment of Native Americans, and participated in almost every protest and activism event in AIM. Relevant Link -
Founding of AIM
Relevant LinkThe American Indian Movement (AIM) was founded in Minneapolis, MN in 1968. Their goal was orginally to help and encourage self-determination for Native Americans forced into ghettos after being pushed out of reservations.
Their goals eventually spread to encompass activism for a wider range of issues in their rights and community. -
Period: to
Timespan
-
Occupation of Alcatraz
Calling themselves "Indians of All Tribes", 89 American Indians claimed and occupied Alcatraz for 19 months "by right of discovery". They demanded that the U.S. goverment turn the island into a center for Native Americans. It ended with the US officials forcibly removing them from the island. Relevant Link -
Occupation of Wounded Knee by Oglala Sioux
Led by Russell Means and other activists, more than 200 Oglala Sioux occupied the Pine Ridge Reservation (the same village as the Wounded Knee massacre - 1980) for 71 days.They brought to attention issues such as poor living conditions and unfair treatment from the government. Relevant Link -
Native American Languages Act
Enacted by congress, an executive order which recognizes the importance and rights of native languages. It revoked policied that attempted to elminate these languages in the past. Relevant Link -
Native Americans Languages Act
Relevant LinkThe United States forcibly enrolled Native American children into Assimilation schools where they were severely punished for using their native language both physically and psychologically. It began in the 1870's and continued up until the 1990's when the US government passed the Native Americans Languages Act. This act stated that Native American's languages are unique and the government has to act cooperatively with them in order to ensure their survival. -
Cobell v. Salazar and the Claims Resolution Act
Eloise Cobell, a Blackfoot Indian, found that the Indian lands held in trust by the US had errors, and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the huge amount of people affected. It was the largest class action lawsuit in US History and was settled to 3.4 billion dollars, with 1.4 going to the plaintiff and 2 billion to purchasing back the land that the Dawes act stole. Relevant Link -
Goals they Still Fight For
LinkRacism: Native Americans have always been discriminated against. Some recent discriminations have been the Washington Redskins team. Mass Incarseration: Native Americans face mass incarserations and unfair treatment from police officers. Native Americans make up only 1 percent of the population, yet make up for 2% of all police killings which is shockingly high.
