Historian Nick Estes joins Breht to discuss the history of the American Indian Movement (AIM), including indigenous resistance, the siege of Wounded Knee, FBI's COINTELPRO, and AIM's goals focused on child removal, police violence, and poverty. They also explore assimilation, AIM's ideology, activism in Rapid City, solidarity with global revolutionary movements, factional divisions within AIM, and collaboration with the Soviet bloc in advancing indigenous rights.
AIM's activism focused on addressing child removal, police violence, and poverty faced by Native Americans.
AIM's ideology evolved over time, with a commitment to sovereignty and self-determination.
AIM's actions brought issues like child removal, police violence, and poverty to national conversations.
AIM's militancy and demands for Indigenous rights set a precedent for future resistance movements.
AIM's actions challenged discrimination and sought justice for indigenous people, advocating for indigenous-led justice systems.
AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee symbolized resistance against historical and ongoing injustice faced by indigenous people.
Deep dives
The Formation of AIM and Initial Goals
The American Indian Movement (AIM) was founded in 1968 in Minneapolis with the primary goals of addressing child removal, police violence, and poverty faced by Native Americans. They created their own survival schools and demanded employment opportunities for Indigenous people. AIM gained attention through takeovers of Bureau of Indian Affairs offices across the country, demanding Indian representation in these offices. They also provided support to the Indians of all Nations during the occupation of Alcatraz. The Trail of Broken Treaties in 1972 saw AIM team up with other organizations, occupying the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters, demanding treaty relations with the US government and introducing a 20-point program.
Actions and Alliances
AIM engaged in various actions, including the occupation of Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, the takeover of Alcatraz, and the Trail of Broken Treaties. They also worked with organizations like the National Indian Youth Council, the Canadian National Indian Brotherhood, and United Native Americans. AIM's actions involved storming buildings, making demands for Indigenous rights, and challenging the US government's treatment of Native Americans. Their activism extended beyond political demands, as they created survival schools and advocated for jobs and housing for Indigenous people. The occupation of Mount Rushmore and the theft of Bureau of Indian Affairs archives were further examples of their militancy and determination.
Evolution of Ideology
AIM initially focused on civil rights and Indigenous sovereignty. While not explicitly adopting a communist or socialist ideology, AIM recognized the shared struggles of poor whites and Indigenous people against colonialism and racism. The movement emphasized self-determination, nationhood, and challenging the settler colonial state. AIM's ideology evolved over time, with some members openly identifying as socialists, while others remained anti-Marxist. The organization's commitment to sovereignty and self-determination remained constant, leading to alliances and collaborations with a range of Indigenous and civil rights organizations.
Significance and Legacy
AIM's actions and activism brought attention to the struggles faced by Native Americans and challenged the status quo. They successfully brought issues such as child removal, police violence, and poverty to the forefront of national conversations. AIM's militancy, takeovers, and demands for Indigenous rights set a precedent for future Indigenous resistance movements. The organization's perseverance and willingness to confront power structures left a lasting impact on the fight for Indigenous rights in the United States. The legacy of AIM continues to inspire and inform contemporary movements advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
Raymond Yellow Thunder and Border Town Violence
Raymond Yellow Thunder, an indigenous man, was brutally beaten and left to die as a symbol of border town violence against indigenous people. This violence stems from the colonial settlements that exist throughout the country, founded on the dispossession and genocide of indigenous people. The podcast discusses the historical and ongoing discrimination and genocidal violence faced by indigenous communities. It also highlights the need for an anti-capitalist and anti-colonial critique of border town economies.
The Importance of Indigenous Tribunals
The American Indian Movement (AIM) played a significant role in challenging discrimination and seeking justice for indigenous people. The podcast explores various actions taken by AIM, including the establishment of red ribbon grand juries. These tribunals aimed to hold individuals, such as school superintendents or police officers, accountable for racial discrimination and mistreatment of Native children. These efforts underscore the importance of indigenous-led justice systems and the empowerment they provide to marginalized communities.
The Occupation of Wounded Knee
The podcast delves into the pivotal event of the AIM-led occupation of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The occupation, stemming from broader discrimination and political unrest, served as a powerful symbol of resistance against historical and ongoing injustice faced by indigenous people. Through their occupation, AIM sought to renew indigenous sovereignty and challenge the colonial power structure. The podcast highlights the intense government response, counterinsurgency tactics, and subsequent trials that followed the occupation.
AIM's Global Impact and Fighting for Indigenous Rights
Following the occupation of Wounded Knee, AIM's impact extended beyond the reservation. The podcast discusses AIM's engagement with international indigenous networks, including solidarity with various decolonization and liberation movements around the world. AIM's efforts emphasized the recognition of indigenous sovereignty and rights, advocating on the international stage and challenging the colonial legacy of the United States. The podcast examines the significance and ongoing importance of AIM's organizing and activism for the broader struggle for indigenous rights and social justice.
The Legacy and Impact of the American Indian Movement (AIM)
The podcast episode explores the history and impact of the American Indian Movement (AIM). It delves into the formation of AIM in the 1970s and highlights its efforts to advocate for indigenous rights nationally and internationally. The episode discusses AIM's involvement in bringing indigenous issues to the United Nations and its collaboration with global movements such as the Palestinian liberation movement and the anti-apartheid movement. It also addresses the internal divisions and splits within AIM, which impacted its organizational structure and effectiveness. Overall, the episode highlights the significance of AIM in advocating for decolonization, anti-imperialism, and indigenous rights.
The Sands of Nicaragua and AIM's Affiliations
The podcast delves into AIM's affiliations with the Sandinista government in Nicaragua in the late 1970s. It explains how AIM provided support and guidance to the Sandinistas in addressing indigenous rights issues within their country. The episode addresses the complexities and tensions that arose within the indigenous communities in Nicaragua, particularly with the Miskito Indians. It discusses AIM's role in mediating between the Sandinistas and the indigenous communities, attempting to understand and advocate for their grievances. The episode also highlights the divisions and controversies within AIM regarding its approach to Marxist ideologies and actions taken by individuals like Russell Means and Ward Churchill. It emphasizes the larger lessons about anti-communism and decolonization struggles that can be learned from studying AIM's history.
Continued Relevance and Future Perspectives of AIM
The podcast episode concludes by discussing the continued relevance of AIM in contemporary indigenous struggles. It highlights the legacy and impact of AIM's advocacy efforts, which contributed to the passing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People in 2007. The episode also addresses AIM's influence on current movements and consciousness around police violence, as seen in the protests after the killing of George Floyd. It emphasizes the need to understand AIM within its historical context, acknowledging both its accomplishments and the divisions that emerged within the movement. Overall, the episode encourages listeners to learn from AIM's history and to continue the fight for decolonization and indigenous rights.
In this fascinating episode Nick Estes, Historian, author of "Our History is the Future" and co-founder of The Red Nation, joins Breht to discuss the history and legacy of the American Indian Movement, including the history of indigenous resistance in America, the origins and ideology of AIM, the Siege of Wounded Knee in 1973, the FBI's COINTELPRO, the Reign of Terror, and SO much more.
