Native Americans Notes

Native Americans Notes Wars – WW1 During World War One the Natives were fighting with the Whites against the Germans. This meant that they were able to integrate although many people would have had preconceived ideas about one another from their ancestors The Natives, about 10,000, who fought in the war received recognition by the government for bravery Families were also sponsored to live outside the reservations to work on the war effort. This led the White man to believe that the Natives had become more civilised. Indian Citizenship Act – 1924 result of the war Wars – WW2 75,000 worked in defence industry 25,000 were in the armed forces Some resistance from Iroquois tribe (about being drafted in to fight) Less money spent on reservations, more on the war effort Japanese Americans were put into the reservation land at the end of the war Indian soldiers forced back into the reservation on return Not able to take advantage of opportunities given to the Whites Education Competition for jobs Foundation of National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) – 1944 Supreme Court Cherokee Nation v. Hitchcock – 1902 right to live according to their own laws and traditions Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock – 1903 revoke all treaties made with Native American tribes Supreme Court said that the Natives had no rights as they were not citizens and were: An ignorant and dependent race Wards of the nation Previously only been represented by sympathetic others – doing things for themselves now Harrison v. Laveen – 1948 seen as one of the most important cases. After the right to vote, some were restricted and was taken to the Supreme Court. It was in the Natives favour but restrictions still existed in the West Oneida v. Oneida and Madison Counties 1974 – Supreme Court were in favour that the tribe had to right to sue for the return of their lands Fisher v. Montana 1976 – secured the right for tribal courts to decide on all cases relating to the adoption of Indian children US v. Sioux Nation 1980 – the Sioux Nation was allowed compensation of $17.5million plus interest from 1877 ($106million) but preferred the return of their land instead Seminole Tribe v. Butterworth 1982 - right to establish gambling enterprises on reservations regardless of State laws Charrier v. Bell 1986 – remains dug from the ground belonged to the Native American Community in Louisiana. This would be the case in 30 States and then passed as an Act in 1990 Government Policy Indian Citizen Act – 1924 Gave Natives the vote due to the WW1 + government policy of total assimilation Not due to Native pressure groups Lots of Natives wanted the right to maintain their traditional rights and to actually resist assimilation Many could vote through the Dawes Act (1887) and inter-marriage Act did not mean that they had the right to vote The Leavitt Bill (“Dance Order”) – 1921 + 1923 Prohibited tribes from performing traditional dances and rituals AIDA formed as a result Tried to enforce the Bursum and Leavitt Bills which would authorise the acquisition of Peublo lands – failed due to AIDA Allotment Policy – part of the Dawes Act which reduced Native lands The Meriam Report – 1928 Report by the Brookings Institute for Government Research Response to oil fields in the reservation lands It was negative towards the allotment policy and Dawes Act (1887) It also spoke of corrupt officials Described Natives as the most impoverished people in the US Closed down boarding schools and improved health and education within reservation lands Federal aid continued in the Depression from Hoover and continued with Roosevelt after 1933 Indian Reorganisation Act (Wheeler-Howard Act 1934) Recognised and preserve Native traditions Natives had more influence in reservations They could practice their religion and get their own cultural identity Unallocated land lost between 1900-1930 was restored The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) was active between 1946-78 The Indian Vocational Training Act (1956) Under L.B Johnson and Nixon there saw the passing of many acts and the American Indian Policy Review (1975): The Indian Education Act 1972 – closure of boarding school and the building of schools of reservations were part of this act Indian Self Determination Act – tribe could negotiate with contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for their own education, health and social services Indian Education Assistance Act – this gave Native American parents more involvement in their children’s education Native American Religious Freedom Act 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act 1978 – an attempt to determine the rights of Native American parents in relation to forcibly removing Indian children, which was mostly a result of lack of understanding of cultural traditions which appeared as neglect Even at the end of the period, the Federal Government were still passing Acts, evident with the Native American Graves Protection Act 1990 – this meant that Native Americans had the right to claim back bodies in museums etc. as well as protect remaining graves Pressure Groups Individual tribes were at war with the White Americans in the Plains Wars (1862-67) which is heightened at Wounded Knee (1890) Treaties like the Treaty of Fort Laramie were signed (1868) which agree Indian ownership of land but this became invalid when the precious resources were found (i.e. gold, silver, oil etc.) The SAI (Society of American Indians) – 1911-1920s 50 educated Natives (men + women) First attempt at inter-tribal pressure group Improvement in education and healthcare Shortage of funds and lack of support (from Natives) led to downfall Group was not united in their vision – especially on assimilation Groups of writes and anthropologists formed AIDA (American Indian Defence Association) – 1923 Response to the Dance Order and allotment policy Campaigned to protect Native rights to: Land Beliefs Culture Traditions Arts and crafts Blocked Bursum and Leavitt Bills John Collier involved NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) – 1944 Natives united – group of 80 educated Natives representing 50 tribes End reservation and have Natives in society – ECONOMIC! Worked through courts and NAACP Challenge discrimination Education Breaking of treaties More militant groups were soon set up like the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) in 1961 and the emergence AIM (American Indian Movement) in 1968 led to Red Power and: The Siege of Alcatraz in 1969 led by the Indians of All Tribes (IAT) The Occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 when the tribal president banned AIM The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) was founded in 1970 They worked with the Supreme Court and worked heavily to gain Charrier v. Bell 1986 and the Native American Grave Protection Act in 1990 The Longest Walk protest in 1978 contributed to the Religious Freedom Act John Collier Got involved with AIDA to preserve the traditions, beliefs and culture of Natives Believed that the Meriam Report was not taken far enough although some improvements were made Indian Reorganisation Act (Wheeler-Howard Act 1934) Modified a lot which was disappointing Made Commissioner for Indian Affairs by Roosevelt Able to return some lost rights of self-determination Unrealistic in his aims although significant changes were made Natives were not as responsive as he hoped Society At the start of the period there was a belief in “Manifest Destiny” and Eugenics It was seen that assimilation was right and there was a need to ‘educate’ them Groups like the Indian Rights Association (IRA) in 1882 even concentrated on the idea of assimilation The World Wars were crucial as they allowed people to see Native Americans in a different light and not as savages as the Cowboy and Indian films portrayed This led to urbanisation of the Native Americans who would live in ghettos similar to those of the African Americans and Immigrants The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s saw great liberalism brought to American of which the Native Americans took advantage, coping the styles of the African American Red Power is clearly from Black Power The splitting between the militant and peaceful methods There was more conservatism towards the end of the period, heightened with Reagan although there was some activity in the Supreme Court and Congress as late as 1990

Native Americans Notes

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Native Americans Notes