Indians of All Tribes
The Native activists involved in the Poor People’s Campaign presented an uncompromising view of colonialism. But it was one thing to develop an intellectual critique and quite another to create a mechanism for dealing with it. While President Lyndon Johnson pledged his support for self-determination in March 1968, the Supreme Court handed down decisions detrimental to fishing rights, and Congress seemed adrift. Public attention returned to Native America in November 1969 when American Indian protestors occupied the abandoned federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. For nineteen months, the self-proclaimed Indians of All Tribes held “the Rock” and, citing an article in the Treaty of Fort Laramie regarding surplus federal property, demanded that it be returned to Native people. Although they did not succeed, Alcatraz inspired a series of other occupations and galvanized the Red Power movement.9 Consider how the core ideas of the Indian of All Tribes manifesto and the language used to convey them compare with the documents in the preceding chapters. Does the document suggest the continuation of a political tradition or the advent of a new one?
United Indians of All Tribes call upon our brothers and sisters all across these Americas to hear this, our call and pledge to Indian unity. Hear us, as we open our hearts and minds, and raise our voices! The time has come for all Indians to unite into one brotherhood and to demonstrate, by this unity, the immediate needs of all our people.
The occupation of Alcatraz has seen the beginnings of a concept of unity long dreamed of by all our people. Many Indian organizations have been founded upon this concept of unity, only to fade, or die, or become entangled in bureaucratic manipulations, and red tape. It has become apparent that these many organizations lacked the basic concept of unity; that of dedicating all efforts to the betterment of all. To think within the cage-like confines of a room too often produces box-like results, neatly packaged and labeled in inanities. Many potential leaders have fallen by the wayside because they have allowed themselves, or were forced by others, to become so involved in the intricacies of bureaucracy that their basic goals were forgotten.
New concepts based upon old ideas demand that new leaders emerge. Let yesterday’s leaders be a source of wisdom and moral strength, but let youth be the fire of positive action in this new and lasting demand for self-determination. Let us also be sure that this fire is a steady, warming hearth, and never one of destruction.
Youth will not compromise in this struggle for unity. All Indian problems, whether of an individual or tribe, must be shared by all. To separate now, at this great potential time of unity, is to become extinct as a people. Reservation and urban needs, the return of our treaty-guaranteed lands, and other lands illegally taken from us, a new educational process for our children; these are but a few of our goals.
Democracy has never been granted to our people. Genocide yesterday and genocide by sophisticated means today has been and is still the policy of the United States Government. Termination, relocation and assimilation are the current forms of genocide. To break all of our cultural ties with earth and tribe is the means now being used to destroy our people. Divide and conquer is the unwritten law; divide and conquer by any means is the Bureau of Indian Affairs indoctrination and brain-washing-Uncle-Tomahawkification-technique, as directed by the heads of government.
Our fathers’ names are recorded in blood all across America. From sea to shining sea lie the graveyards of military massacres against our people. The surface of America is etched forever with the scars of countless Trails of Tears. The thousands who gave their lives to defend their sacred lands are as numerous as the stars and can never be counted. Their spirits live within our hearts and their deaths must not be forgotten.
We will unite! There will be no compromise! America has a moral obligation before the eyes of all the world to undo the many wrongs inflicted upon our Indian peoples; upon Indians of All Tribes.
We will build a new life and a new philosophy based upon the ancient wisdoms of our fathers. We will unite and in the strength of our unity, our voices will be heard by those whose ears and hearts have been as stone. In unity, the return of portions of our treaty-guaranteed lands will become a reality. We are not a greedy people, but Justice will be ours. The drums of our eternal people will sound once more forever across our lands.
The earth, our mother, awaits our unity. The sacred hoop need only be bound with the sinew of our united courage. The tree of peace will be green and tall forever. Our children will know Freedom and Justice.