American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement has significantly improved over the past 30 years. American Indians have been on the move for almost 500 years. The movement has transformed policy making into programs and organizations that have served Indian people in many communities. The success of these efforts can’t me measured but viewed as even greater than the accomplishments is the vision defining what American Indian Movement stands for.
American Indians have developed communities and opportunities in American and Canada from this movement. AIM’s headquarter is located in Minneapolis and also has chapters throughout the country. This movement has allowed American Indians to redefine their spiritual, culture, language, and history. AIM protects their people and their land from the federal government. Several times AIM has won lawsuits against our government to protect their rights of Native Nations guaranteed in treaties, sovereignty, Constitution, and laws.
AIM took several Native Nation members in 1972 to Washington, DC to confront our US President with these 20 claims:
1. Restoration of treaty making (ended by Congress in 1871).
2. Establishment of a treaty commission to make new treaties (with sovereign Native Nations).
3. Indian leaders to address Congress.
4. Review of treaty commitments and violations.
5. Unratified treaties to go before the Senate.
6. All Indians to be governed by treaty relations.
7. Relief for Native Nations for treaty rights violations.
8. Recognition of the right of Indians to interpret treaties.
9. Joint Congressional Committee to be formed on reconstruction of Indian relations.
10. Restoration of 110 million acres of land taken away from Native Nations by the United States.
11. Restoration of terminated rights.
12. Repeal of state jurisdiction on Native Nations.
13. Federal protection for offenses against Indians.
14. Abolishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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