American Indian Movement (AIM) - Goals, Leaders, Today

Overview

• Founded: 1968
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Focus: Indigenous rights, police brutality, racial profiling
• Legacy: Key force in the Indigenous civil rights movement

Origins and Early Goals

• Termination Policy: Federal law in 1953 aimed at breaking tribal land and assimilating into cities.
• Founders: Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, Vernon Bellecourt, George Mitchell.
• Initial Goals: Address police brutality and provide a voice for urban Native Americans.
• AIM Patrol: Established to monitor police interactions and court treatment of Native Americans.
• Inspired by: Civil rights movement and nonviolent confrontation.

Key Actions and Protests

• Alcatraz Occupation (1969): Part of a coalition asserting Indigenous authority over the island.
• Mayflower Seizure (1970): Declared a national day of mourning.
• Mount Rushmore Occupation (1971): Protested to demand recognition of the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
• Winter Dam Takeover: Returned 25,000 acres to the Lac Court Oreilles Ojibwa.
• Milwaukee Coast Guard Station (1971): Claimed land for Native welfare.

Trail of Broken Treaties (1972)

• AIM's Largest Action: Caravans to Washington D.C. demanding treaty recognition.
• Twenty Points: Demands for tribal recognition and cultural protections.
• Outcome: Led to Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975).

Pine Ridge Reservation Occupation (1973)

• Sparked by: Wesley Bad Heart Bull’s murder.
• Outcome: Violent confrontation with federal authorities, drawing national attention.

Cultural and Educational Efforts

• Heart of the Earth Survival School (1972): Alternative K-12 school for Native students.
• International Indian Treaty Council (1974): First Indigenous organization recognized by the UN.
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978): Recognized Native religious practices.

Challenges and Achievements

• FBI Informant Scandal: Caused internal distrust in AIM.
• Cultural Advocacy: Revived traditional ceremonies, advocated against Indian mascots.
• UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights (2007): Significant international recognition.
• Division and Legacy: AIM split in 1993 but continued advocating for Native rights.

Key Figures and Influence

• Clyde Bellecourt: Revived traditional events, advocated against mascots.
• Vernon Bellecourt: Active in cultural advocacy and leading protests.
• Dennis Banks: Early leader and protest organizer.

Conclusion

• Impact: AIM played a crucial role in advocating for Indigenous rights through protests, education, and international advocacy.
• Legacy: Despite internal challenges, AIM's actions led to significant policy changes and increased awareness of Indigenous issues.