Unit 7
Objective: We will discuss the
concerns and interactions between
the USA and American Indians from
the 1960’s to present time.
Political and Social Action/Change
• Throughout 40’s, 50’s, 60’s lands were continually
diminished by dams, strong arm tactics, political
control of BIA, etc.  new types of activism
modeled after?
– Wallace Mad Bear and nonviolent movement vs. NY
• Movements brought together tribal members,
increased pride, relocation programs led to urban
populations growing more militant due to
conditions/time.
Indian Militancy
• 1961 Am. Indian Chicago
Conf. led to Declaration of
Indian Purpose.
• NIYC exemplified youth
movement, anger.
– “We are not free” -Clyde
Warrior
– Pacific coast “fish-ins”
indicative of civil disobedience
– Formation of AIM and “Indian
Patrols” in Minneapolis show
the mobilization/radicalized
new population.
•
Actor Marlon Brando and Puyallup tribal
leader Bob Satiacum just before Brando's
arrest during a fish-in, March 2, 1964
Courtesy Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Activism  Militancy
• AIM / other movements
used protest to further
causes. Led to eventual
violence.
–
–
–
–
–
‘68 Inter. Bridge Blockade
’69 Seizure of Alcatraz
70 Thanksgiving “Mourning”
71 Mt. Rushmore
72 Trail of Broken Treaties
and occupation of BIA
building. Outcome of 20
points?
Siege at Wounded Knee
• Policy failures led to
increased radicalism /
tension
• Tension led to increased
federal presence  AIM and
Means, Banks overtook
Wounded Knee, est. own
“nation”
• Lasted 71 days until treaty
was signed, not recognized.
Peltier legacy.
• Violence continued between
Dick Wilson’s “goons” and
activists until 1976.
Dick Wilson and BIA’s Power
• Within three years of the Wounded Knee II
siege, 69 members and supporters of AIM
died violently on the reservation. Nearly 350
others were physically assaulted. None of
their killers were convicted, and many of the
cases were never investigated. Many AIM
leaders were imprisoned.
• http://www.pbs.org/itvs/alcatrazisnotanisland/activism.html
Legacy of AIM / Militantism
• Two sides
– Temporary coverage/
impact for cause. Violence
wrong way, unproductive.
No substance.
– Renewed interest, pride in
cultural heritage. Spawned
new groups, etc.
• Before AIM [American Indian Movement], Indians were
dispirited, defeated and culturally dissolving. People
were ashamed to be Indian. You didn't see the young
people wearing braids or chokers or ribbon shirts in
those days. Hell, I didn't wear 'em. People didn't Sun
Dance, they didn't Sweat, they were losing their
languages. Then there was that spark at Alcatraz, and
we took off. Man, we took a ride across this country.
We put Indians and Indian rights smack dab in the
middle of the public consciousness for the first time
since the so-called Indian Wars.... [AIM] laid the
groundwork for the next stage in regaining our
sovereignty and self-determination as nation, and I'm
proud to have been a part of that.
- Russell Means (Oglala Lakota)
Current Reservation Lands
Gaming
Gaming on Indian Lands
• Why?
– Sovereignty and economic self-reliance is seen as only
way to break poverty cycle. (60’s/70’s)
– Economic opportunities limited in so many ways they
turned to gaming (took page out of U.S. book)
• How?
– Seminoles in ‘79 w/ bingo led to Supreme Court ruling
which led to California v. Cabazon
– IGRA ‘88 allowed states/tribes to run casinos on lands
• Federal v. State v. Tribal Sovereignty argument
Positives
• Mississippi Choctaws one of
10 largest employers in
Mississippi.
• Seminole tribe purchased
Hard Rock for 965 million in
2006.
• California Tribes: 18 tribes
own many casinos
• Pequot's in Connecticut
own Foxwoods/Mohegan
Sun
Overall Benefits
• Tribes receive $4 of every $10 that Americans wager at
casinos.
• Indian casinos earn $26.7 billion in 2008 revenues.
• There are 425 Indian gaming facilities.
• 240 tribes operate casinos.
• Indian gaming operates in 28 states
• 24 states allow full-scale Indian casinos, 4 allow only Class II
casinos (bingo slots)
• Indian casinos provide 712,000 jobs with $27 billion in wages
• Indian gaming paid $10.8 billion in local, state and federal
taxes in 2008.
• Indian gaming pays $1.3 billion in taxes to federal, state, local
governments.
• Source: National Indian Gaming Commission www.nigc.gov
Connecticut Casinos
Connecticut Casinos
Foxwoods (Pequot)
Mohegan Sun (Mohegans)
Mashantucket Pequot museum
Tribal Benefits
• Economic freedoms lead to
cultural awareness,
programs, buildings, legal
monies, etc.
• State revenues in billions
– Political power restored in
states (p. 545 quote)
• Guaranteed employment,
health care, housing,
government programs,
education, etc for some of
the tribes
• 2007 took in more revenue
than Vegas (26.7 Billion)
•
http://500nations.com/news/Indian_Casinos/2
0090603.asp
Mt. Pleasant MI, Ojibwa Nation
Cultural Center
Casino
Arguments Against
• Who would argue against Indian gaming rights?
– Local communities against traffic, influence, etc.
– Other gaming entities (AC and Vegas)
– Resentment and stereotypes
– Indian Arguments Against?
• Weariness of relationships with states/compromise of
sovereignty
• Vices and impact upon culture/tribe/reservations
• Non-Indian involvement
• Divisions within tribes and with other tribes
Green Bay, WI. Oneida Nation
Gas station gambling
Another gas station (7 casinos
within reservation)
Confronting Modern Issues
• Alcohol/Drugs
– HIGH alcoholism rates health issues, depression. Meth
use rising/effects
– Combating addiction
• Repatriation: Returning bones/artifacts
– Showed lack of humanity to Indians vs. Science/Research
– 80’s began period of returning items, 1990 Native
American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act.
• North Dakota alcohol
impact upon the
reservations.
21st Century Indians
• Changes over last 500+ years indicative of
many problems, but also the resilience of the
Indian. Poverty, government actions,
genocide, etc. have not killed the Indian, nor
their spirit/ideas. Adaption has been constant
and will continue on into the 21st century.
What roles they serve will be interesting and
progress will hopefully ensue.
Reflection
• Has your opinion changed about this/any
topic regarding NA history?
• What was the most interesting part/unit of
this course?
• What do you take from this class overall?
• Would you recommend this class to a friend?
Why or why not?
• Thoughts for improvement?
Quiz (456-463)
• 1. Post WWII saw a population shift from reservations to
_________?
• 2. This group was responsible for many social reforms in
Indian communities in 1960’s.
• 3. List one specific protest/action taken by Indians in 60’s and
70’s to realize treaty rights, freedoms.
• 4. Which led the siege at Wounded Knee on the Indian side?
• 5. Which of the following was the radical Indian group whose
impact has been debated since the 1970’s.
• A. Means
D. NYIC
• B. Wilson
E. BIA
• C. AIM
Quiz
• 1). LIST one stereotype modern Indians are
supposed to perpetuate?
• 2). Which has been most critical for tribal economic
success?
• 3). Which tribe owns Hard Rock International?
• 4). List one negative of gaming for Indian
populations
• 5). List one benefit of gaming for individual Indians.
• A. Sovereignty
• B. Seminole
• C. Choctaw