20th Century Policies

“New Deal” Indian

Indian Reorganization ActTime Period: 1934-

early 1940s• In 1934, the Indian

Reorganization Act (Wheeler-Howard Act) was passed as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs

• Roosevelt appoint Indian advocate, John Collier, as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to execute the Indian Reorganization Act

Purpose of the IRAThe Indian Reorganization Act

(IRA) ended & reversed the Dawes Act by:

1. Returning communal land to tribes;2. Encouraging the self-government of

tribes (create tribal councils & constitutions); and,

3. Restored the management of tribal lands to the tribe

• The IRA, like other New Deal programs, lost momentum due to the onset of World War II.

The Navajo Code Talkers

Navajo Code TalkersThe Navajo Code

Talkers were a group of Navajo

Marines who transmitted

military messages in the Navajo language,

during World War II

Navajo Code Talkers

The Code Talkers used words in the

Navajo language that could not be

broken by the Japanese, during the war in the

Pacific.

Some examples: •"besh- lo" (iron fish) meant "submarine“

•"dah-he- tih-hi" (hummingbird) meant "fighter plane"

•"debeh-li-zine" (black street) meant "squad"

Bush presents one of the Congressional Gold Medals to a

former Navajo code talker

 

Flag being raised on the island of Iwo

Jima during World War II

Ira Hayes, Pima, was one of the

flag raisers

Relocation

Purpose of Relocation• Time Period: 1948- 1979• The Bureau of Indian Affairs

encouraged Indians to migrate to urban areas

• By 1960, a total of 33,466 Indians had been relocated.

• Government relocation provided: Job placement Job training (vocational skills) Counseling Transportation Subsistence funds until the first

paycheck

Effects of Relocation• More Native Americans live in

urban areas today than on reservations

• Pow wows were created as a way for diverse tribes to come together to celebrate their Indian heritage

• Some brought skills learned back to reservations/tribal communities (Ex. Lumbees in Baltimore & Detroit)

NEW:Watch PBSRelocation videos (2)

& view interactive map

Termination

Purpose of TerminationTime Period: 1953- 1970• The policy hoped to terminate the

responsibility that the federal government had with Native American tribes.

• The hope was to pass laws to end the existence of Indian tribes.

• The government argued that Native Americans should be treated exactly as all other citizens

• Congress wanted to work toward the withdrawal of all federal support and responsibility for Native American affairs.

Effects of Termination• Services (healthcare & education) were

withdrawn from about 11,500 Native Americans

• 1.5 million acres of land were taken from tribes

• Tribes/members became dependent on welfare• “Red Power,” led by AIM (American Indian

Movement) arose to protest this policy1. Occupation of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay

from 1969-19712. Trail of Broken Treaties occupation of the BIA in

Washington, DC in 19723. 71-day Siege at Wounded Knee in 1973

Occupation of Alcatraz

Occupation of the

BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

Occupation of the BIA (Bureau of

Indian Affairs)

Occupation of the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

1973 Siege at Wounded Knee

Mary Brave Bird

(Mary Moore/Mary Crow Dog)

Leonard Crow Dog

Self-Determination

Self-DeterminationTime Period: 1970-

Present• President Nixon

ended the termination policy and ushered in the current policy called Self-Determination

Purpose of Self-Determination• This policy recognizes the

sovereignty of tribes• Self-determination

emphasizes self-government & tribal administration of its affairs including healthcare, education, housing, law enforcement, and welfare

Effects of Self-Determination• Tribes have gained back

rights to land, water, and hunting/fishing sites

• Religious & sacred sites have been returned

• Tribes are finally recognized by the government as SOVEREIGN!