1970 - 1992 Flashcards
1
Q
What change did Nixon bring to the NAI movement
A
- On the 8th July 1970, Richard Nixon delivered his presidential
message to Congress, In which he strongly criticised the
treatment of Native Americans since the mid-nineteenth
century. - A new direction of Indian policy which aimed at Indian self-
determination was set forth by President Nixon, he
condemned forced termination and proposed
recommendations for specific action. - Nixon called on Congress to recognise that this policy had
failed to improve opportunities for Indians and had, instead,
condemned them to poverty and distress. - As a result, the policy of termination was ended and a reform
programme was introduced to begin the process of righting
the wrongs - In 1970 Nixon’s pledge to return Indian land began with a
number of laws authorising the return of tribal lands to the
Makah and Taos Pueblo Indians - In 1972, Land was returned to the Yakama Indians of
Washington State
2
Q
Education Act (1972)
A
- Nixon placed great emphasis on the improvement of educational
provision for Indian children and young people - The Act involved a substantial increase in federal funding for
Indian schools, including programmes to build reservation schools - The closure of the highly controversial boarding schools was part
of this reform programme that was continue by Nixon’s
presidential successors, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and was
probably his lasting legacy to the American Indians.
3
Q
Indian Self Determination Act (1975)
A
- Although passed by Congress during the presidency of Nixon’s
successor, Gerald Ford, was a crucial piece of legislation that was
clearly influenced by Nixon’s priorities and marked a radical change
of direction in federal policy. - laid down the processes whereby the tribes could negotiate contracts
with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take responsibility for their own
education, health and social service provision. It also authorised the
allocation of federal funding for these programmes which moved the
tribes nearer to self sufficiency - In its recognition of the right of Native Americans to self-
determination, the federal government abandoned its long-held belief
in the necessity for assimilation
-Consequently, although often heralded as the most significant action
since the New Deal, It can be argued that it was of greater
importance than Roosevelt’s policy.
4
Q
Indian Education Assistance Act
1975
A
- Gave American Indian parents greater involvement in their children’s
education through membership of their school boards
5
Q
Native American Religious Freedom Act (1978)
A
- Marked an important step forward in this direction by giving to Native
Americans the rights to ‘believe, express and exercise traditional
religions including access to sites, use and possession of sacred
objects and freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional
rights.
6
Q
Indian Child Welfare Act (1978)
A
- An attempt to determine the rights of Native American parents in
relation to the continuing practice of forcibly removing Indian children
from their families
-This was frequently the result of the lack of understanding on the part
of social workers of cultural traditions surrounding child rearing in
American Indian communities, which were interpreted erroneously as
neglect.
7
Q
List the 1970s Acts
A
- Education Act (1972)
- Indian Self Determination Act (1975)
- Indian Education Assistance Act
(1975) - Native American Religious Freedom Act (1978)
- Indian Child Welfare Act (1978)
8
Q
Why was the 1980s a turning point
A
- In the last two decades of the twentieth century, as the economic
situation in the USA worsened, funding was cut back - This was especially the case during the Ronald Reagans
presidency 1981-1989; Reagan believed in ‘native capitalism’ as
means to establish self-sufficiency - ‘Native Capitalism’
9
Q
What was Native Capitalism
A
- Native capitalism was intended to reduce the burden on federal or
state expenditure by the development of profit-making
enterprises by Native Americans themselves - In the closing decades of the twentieth century, the Reservation
Indians did attempt to stimulate their economics by creating small
businesses such as restaurants, gasoline stations, shops, bingo
halls, as well as making money from farming, hunting, lumbering,
fishing and from the film industry. - Some built factories in the reservations and provided employment
for other Indians
10
Q
What role did James Wyatt have
A
- Reagan’s emphasis was on a more vagarious, unregulated capitalism
combined with tax cuts - The main agent of this policy of promoting ‘healthy reservation
economics’ was James Wyatt, Secretary of the Interior - In 1983 suggested that the main cause of the economic and social
problems of Native Americans such as low wages, a concentration of
employment in unskilled occupations, a tuberculosis rate six times the
national average and a similar suicide rate in comparison to other
ethnic groups, was federal government ‘socialism’, that dominates
attitudes on the reservations. - Wyatt wanted to open up more public and Indian land to commercial
exploitation.
11
Q
What policy re-emerged in the 1980s
A
Many Native Americans began to see the signs of a revival of termination policies in these public utterances
12
Q
How did NAI respond to these policies
A
- Native American leadership in the 1980s was put on the defensive
by these policies which gave support to the many economic
pressure groups who felt that the energy of resources currently
underneath the reservations were national assets - The underlying mood of Native Americans response to
Reagansim, its policies and promises, can be judged by the cuts
in social programmes, initiated by a President they described as
‘the great fork-tongued liar and the great deceiver who sits in the
White House.’
13
Q
What was the impact of Red Power in the 1970s
A
- Government reforms in the 1970s must be set in the context of the
increasingly violent and provocative protests orchestrated by AIM - Much of the the actions that occurred were as a result of the
frustration of the slow progress of implementation of social
reforms
e.g Occupation of Mount Rushmore (1971)
Occupation of Wounded Knee (1973)
14
Q
What occurred in the occupation of Mount Rushmore (1971)
A
- In the Black Hills of Dakota
- Was an attempt to reassert the disputed ownership of the sacred
burial grounds of the Lakota Sioux Indians
-Established a camp in this area, although these protestors were
eventually evicted
15
Q
What occurred in the occupation of Wounded Knee (1973)
A
- Arose following allegations of the suspected financial dealings of the
president of the Reservation and his maltreatment of its Indian
inhabitants - lasted 71 days and involved resistance to federal
marshals - Acted out of full media coverage
- This highly publicised protests organised by AIM, raised awareness of
past injustices, of broken promises and treaties, and were
undoubtedly influential In bringing about policy changes
