Reading and Writing Workshop
Native American Civil Rights and Native American Activism
Session 1: The Civil Rights Era and Native American Activism
Theme: The rise of Native American activism in the 1960s and 1970s, and how it connected to broader Civil Rights struggles.
Readings:
How did Native American activism in the 1960s and 1970s draw inspiration from the broader Civil Rights movement, and how did it diverge in its methods or goals?
Session 2: The American Indian Movement (AIM)
Theme: Exploring AIM's founding, key protests, and their legacy.
Readings:
Pick one event (Alcatraz, Trail of Broken Treaties, or Wounded Knee) and write a reflective essay on its significance to Native sovereignty and self-determination.
Session 3: Key Figures in Native American Activism
Theme: The contributions and philosophies of Russell Means, Vine Deloria Jr., and Dennis Banks.
Readings:
Compare and contrast the leadership styles and philosophies of any two of the figures studied. How did their approaches to activism shape Native political movements?
Session 1: The Civil Rights Era and Native American Activism
Theme: The rise of Native American activism in the 1960s and 1970s, and how it connected to broader Civil Rights struggles.
Readings:
- "Statement to the National Indian Youth Council" (1961)
- A key early document from one of the first modern Native American activist groups.
- https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951002824745k&view=1up&seq=1
- Excerpts from "The Forgotten American" by Forrest Gerard (1968)
- Highlights Native perspectives on inequality during the broader Civil Rights movement.
- https://archive.org/details/forgottenamerica00gove/mode/2up
How did Native American activism in the 1960s and 1970s draw inspiration from the broader Civil Rights movement, and how did it diverge in its methods or goals?
Session 2: The American Indian Movement (AIM)
Theme: Exploring AIM's founding, key protests, and their legacy.
Readings:
- "Alcatraz Proclamation to the Great White Father" (1969)
- The document read during the occupation of Alcatraz.
- https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/alcatrazproclamation.html
- "The Trail of Broken Treaties: BIA Building Takeover Demands" (1972)
- A manifesto outlining grievances and demands during the Trail of Broken Treaties.
- https://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/indices/NANotes.html
- Wounded Knee 1973 press releases and statements
- A collection of primary documents from the Wounded Knee standoff.
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/285750
Pick one event (Alcatraz, Trail of Broken Treaties, or Wounded Knee) and write a reflective essay on its significance to Native sovereignty and self-determination.
Session 3: Key Figures in Native American Activism
Theme: The contributions and philosophies of Russell Means, Vine Deloria Jr., and Dennis Banks.
Readings:
- Excerpts from "Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto" by Vine Deloria Jr. (1969)
- A groundbreaking book challenging stereotypes and discussing Native political thought.
- https://archive.org/details/custerdiedforyou0000delo/mode/2up
- Russell Means’ "For America to Live, Europe Must Die" (1980)
- A powerful speech by Russell Means critiquing Western civilization from an Indigenous perspective.
- https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/means.html
- Dennis Banks’ testimony before the U.S. Senate (1974)
- From hearings related to the aftermath of Wounded Knee.
- https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015077924367&view=1up&seq=1
Compare and contrast the leadership styles and philosophies of any two of the figures studied. How did their approaches to activism shape Native political movements?