Overview
This lecture discusses how the FBI's COINTELPRO program targeted Native American activists, especially the American Indian Movement (AIM), with tactics meant to undermine their demands for rights and sovereignty.
COINTELPRO and Native American Activism
- Most people associate COINTELPRO with Black Panthers or civil rights leaders, but it also targeted Native American activists.
- The program aimed not just to surveil but to crush movements challenging the status quo.
- In the 1970s, Native American activism grew, with AIM at the forefront.
- AIM demanded the US honor treaties, stop land theft, and end police brutality on reservations.
AIM's Major Actions
- In 1969, AIM occupied Alcatraz to reclaim lost territory and highlight treaty violations.
- AIM protested at Mount Rushmore and led the "Trail of Broken Treaties" to Washington, DC in 1972.
- Their demands focused on basic human rights and fulfillment of legal agreements.
FBI Tactics Against AIM
- The FBI infiltrated AIM with informants to create internal divisions.
- Deliberate provocations led to violent conflict, especially on Pine Ridge Reservation.
- Over 60 people died at Pine Ridge from 1973-1976 in violence linked to these tactics.
- Dick Wilson, the tribal chairman, had a private militia (the "Goon Squad") that targeted AIM supporters, often with FBI intelligence support.
Wounded Knee Occupation 1973
- AIM occupied Wounded Knee for 71 days demanding investigations into Pine Ridge corruption and respect for treaties.
- The FBI responded with a military-style siege, leading to deaths and injuries among Native activists.
- The government treated activists as enemy combatants rather than negotiating on legal demands.
Consequences and Legacy
- COINTELPRO's targeting of Native activists was deliberate policy, not isolated incidents.
- The program aimed to sabotage and destroy movements for justice, land, and sovereignty.
- The consequences of these actions continue to affect Native communities.
Key Terms & Definitions
- COINTELPRO — FBI program designed to surveil, infiltrate, and disrupt political organizations deemed threatening.
- AIM (American Indian Movement) — Group advocating for Native American rights, treaty enforcement, and sovereignty.
- Pine Ridge Reservation — Site of significant violence and conflict between AIM and authorities in the 1970s.
- Wounded Knee Occupation — 1973 stand-off between AIM activists and the US government at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the history of AIM and the events at Wounded Knee for deeper context.
- Reflect on ongoing impacts of COINTELPRO on Native communities.