IA Reading

Page 1: The Rhetoric of American Indian Activism in the 1960s and 1970s

Overview

  • Authors: John Sanchez and Mary E. Stuckey

  • Focus: Examines the political rhetoric of American Indian activists during the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties to the 1973 siege at Wounded Knee, emphasizing the complexities of audience.

  • Key Concepts: American Indians, Native Americans, social movements, American Indian Movement.

Significance of Political Rhetoric

  1. Educative and Constitutive Role

    • Political rhetoric serves an educative function in democracies.

    • Educative processes are crucial for ethnic and cultural groups outside the dominant culture.

  2. Cultural Contextualization

    • Out-groups must account for their unique historical and cultural experiences in advocacy.

    • American Indian rhetoric must educate non-Indians about their traditions and histories.

  3. Challenges in Rhetorical Strategies

    • The need to balance between winning the support of non-Indians while staying true to their own cultural narratives.

Page 2: Rhetorical Strategies in Activism

Historical Context

  • American Indian protests against colonial and U.S. government domination are longstanding.

  • Chief Gieschenatsi’s 1773 quote illustrates early frustrations with colonial disrespect.

Evolution of Rhetorical Approaches

  1. Shift and Adaptation

    • Rhetorical strategies among American Indian activists vary from militant to moderate based on political climates.

  2. Rhetorical Function

    • Rhetoric serves dual purposes: instrumental (policy advocacy) and consummatory (identity formation).

The Emergence of New Identities

  • Urban relocation policies in the 1950s fostered a pan-American Indian identity.

  • Collective resistance against assimilation led to a renewed cultural pride and activism.

Page 3: The American Indian Movement (AIM) and Activism

Foundation of AIM

  • Established in 1968 by key figures such as Vernon Bellecourt and Clyde Warrior.

  • AIM represented a new wave of activism based on traditional American Indian values.

  • Emerged in response to cultural extermination policies leading to local and national protests.

Key Events Leading to Wounded Knee

  1. Alcatraz Occupation (1969)

    • A pivotal moment that brought media attention to American Indian issues.

  2. Trail of Broken Treaties (1972)

    • A protest caravan led to the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in D.C. after unmet demands.

  3. Rising Tensions at Pine Ridge

    • Local divisiveness reached a peak leading up to the Wounded Knee siege.

Page 4: The Siege at Wounded Knee

Events of the Occupation

  1. Militarized Response

    • The federal government deployed substantial military resources to contain the protestors during the 73-day standoff.

  2. AIM’s Dual Goals

    • Advocacy for American Indian sovereignty and education of both American Indians and non-Indians.

  3. Outcomes and Aftermath

    • Both sides declared moral victories, but deeper systemic issues remained unresolved.

Page 5: Key Rhetorical Strategies Employed by Activists

Understanding Audience

  1. Government as Primary Audience

    • Deliberative rhetoric aimed at the federal government regarding policy changes.

    • Confrontations were often used to force engagement from government officials.

  2. Engaging the American Public

    • Efforts to reshape public perceptions of American Indians through education and media engagement.

    • Utilization of "perspective by incongruity" to challenge dominant stereotypes.

Page 6: The Role of Identity and Stereotyping

Rhetorical Tactics Against Stereotypes

  • AIM sought to redefine their identity in terms of agency rather than the stereotypes perpetuated by media.

  • Emphasis on spirituality as essential to their cultural identity and activist motivation.

Media Interaction

  • The media’s portrayal of activists often reduced complex issues to simplistic narratives, emphasizing violence and conflict over educational intentions.

Page 7: Historical Contextualization in Rhetoric

Colonial Narrative Reframing

  • Activists confronted narratives that marginalized the American Indian perspective, seeking to reclaim historical agency.

  • By framing American issues within a colonial context, AIM aimed to draw parallels with other global liberation movements.

Page 8: Confronting Government Violence

Dissociation in Rhetoric

  • Activists differentiated between the “real” violence perpetuated by the government and the actions of AIM which were framed as defensive or reactive.

  • This tactic aimed to clarify misconceptions around AIM’s methods and purpose.

Page 9: Activism's Legacy and Conclusions

Long-Term Effects

  • The impact of 1960s and 1970s activism has led to greater recognition of American Indian rights, but ongoing challenges exist.

  • The need for continued advocacy within a polarized political landscape remains critical.

Implications for Future Activism

  • The necessity for marginalized groups to navigate their strategies between internal community goals and broader societal engagement to achieve meaningful outcomes.