Larry J. Zimmerman, Ph.D., RPAIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

American Indian Activism

With the best of Intentions…

An IUPUI example

Indian Activism Pre-1900

Charles Eastman

Almost all white-run

"The common field is the seat of barbarism, while the separate farm is the door to civilization. Sen. Henry Dawes, Massachusetts

He also noted that selfishness was the root of advanced civilization, and he could not understand why the Indians were not motivated to possess and achieve more than their neighbors

In 1887, the tribes had owned about 138 million acres; by 1900 the total acreage in Indian hands had fallen to 78 million

Dawes Severalty Act. (1887) :

See the precise language of the law at http://www.law.du.edu/russell/lh/alh/docs/dawesact.html

Henry Dawes

Indians as U.S. citizens, 1924

The “Progressive Era”

President Calvin Coolidge with four Osage Indians after Coolidge signed the granting Indians full U.S. citizenship

The Indian Reorganization Act, 1934a.k.a. Wheeler-Howard Act

Roosevelt’s New Deal for Indians

John Collier as first Native BIA director

Instituted US style constitutional goverment

The impact of World War II

Getting something back: The Indian Claims Commission

US—1946

Canada—1991 but with earlier versions since 1927

Termination and Relocation

Activism and the resurgence of tribal power

1970s Activism

Contemporary Activism

Casinos and economic resurgenceActivism with power…