What was the Effect on the American Indian Movement?
The Alcatraz Occupation may have been an immediate loss, but was a major stepping stone in the American Indian Movement. The termination policy was abolished, giving Native Americans the right to assemble and self govern. In the year that the occupation ended, 52 proposals were passed in favor of Native American Tribal-Self Ruling. President Nixon doubled the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget, the funds for Indian Health Care. Although the Native Americans did not receive a university, the scholarship budget for college students rose by $848,000. President Nixon also established the Office of Equal Opportunity, which is what the Native Americans were fighting for, an equal opportunity.
"Before AIM [American Indian Movement], Indians were dispirited, defeated and culturally dissolving. People were ashamed to be Indian. You didn't see the young people wearing braids or chokers or ribbon shirts in those days. Hell, I didn't wear 'em. People didn't Sun Dance, they didn't Sweat, they were losing their languages. Then there was that spark at Alcatraz, and we took off. Man, we took a ride across this country. We put Indians and Indian rights smack dab in the middle of the public consciousness for the first time since the so-called Indian Wars.... [AIM] laid the groundwork for the next stage in regaining our sovereignty and self-determination as nation, and I'm proud to have been a part of that."
Russell Means
Russell Means
"American Indian people would not be where they are today if it had not been for Alcatraz."
John Trudell
John Trudell