Declaration of Indian Purpose (1961)
Stewart Gardner
Introduction
In June of 1961, the American Indian Chicago Conference was a week-long conclave of members of 90 Native American tribes. This declaration created at that conference was the first major statement of tribal self-determination. Representatives from the conference presented the declaration to President Kennedy the next summer. One outcome of the activism that followed has been the expansion of Native American gaming.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- How does this statement employ words and values from the Declaration of Independence?
- How does the history of American relations with Native American nations reflect the successes and failures of living up to those values?
- To what is the current situation of dependence attributed? What is asked for with regard to re-establishing an appropriate degree of independence?
1961 Declaration of Indian Purpose
Source: American Indian Chicago Conference. (1961, June 20). Declaration of Indian purpose. The Declaration Project. https://declarationproject.org/?p=32
