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A.merican I.ndian M.ovement 

a legacy. 

We fought for civil rights, fishing rights back in the day… but it won't mean anything if there is no planet.

- Chief Goodwolf Kindness

In 1968  Minneapolis AIM Patrol was created to monitor police treatment of urban American Indians and their treatment in the justice system.  From this beginning, the organization grew to progress Native America boldly in the many social and environmental battles which have ensued from colonization including the occupation of Alcatraz, the takeover of the BIA headquarters in Washington D.C., and a second bloody battle at Wounded Knee. 

AIM developed a 20-point list to summarize its issues with federal treaties and promises, which they publicized during their occupation in 1972.  These expectations are unbelievably relevant to this day.

 

The leadership of this movement left much to learn from and about… .

Dennis Banks
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Russell Means
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Clyde Bellecourt
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Leonard Crow Dog
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Leonard Peltier
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20 bullets

This is AIM's 20-point list which summarizes its issues with federal treaties and promises, publicized during their occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington D.C. in 1972. 

  • Restore treaty-making (ended by Congress in 1871).

  • Establish a treaty commission to make new treaties (with sovereign Native Nations).

  • Provide opportunities for Indian leaders to address Congress directly.

  • Review treaty commitments and violations.

  • Have unratified treaties reviewed by the Senate.

  • Ensure that all American Indians are governed by treaty relations.

  • Provide relief to Native Nations as compensation for treaty rights violations.

  • Recognize the right of Indians to interpret treaties.

  • Create a Joint Congressional Committee to reconstruct relations with Indians.

  • Restore 110 million acres (450,000 km2) of land taken away from Native Nations by the United States.

  • Restore terminated rights of Native Nations.

  • Repeal state jurisdiction on Native Nations (Public Law 280).

  • Provide Federal protection for offenses against Indians.

  • Abolish the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

  • Create a new office of Federal Indian Relations.

  • Remedy breakdown in the constitutionally prescribed relationships between the United States and Native Nations.

  • Ensure immunity of Native Nations from state commerce regulation, taxes, and trade restrictions.

  • Protect Indian religious freedom and cultural integrity.

  • Establish national Indian voting with local options; free national Indian organizations from governmental controls.

  • Reclaim and affirm health, housing, employment, economic development, and education for all Indian people.

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