Skip to main content

Native American Activism and Subject File Collection

 Collection
Identifier: SPC-2018-052

Scope and Contents

The Native American Activism and Subject File Collection (1939-1997,2005,2007, undated) contains four boxes of newspapers, magazines, newsletters, flyers, leaflets, books, pamphlets, and other documents related to Native American activism and history from 1939-early 1990s, the bulk of the material being from the 1970s-1990s. Included are issues of "Treaty Council News", "Anthropological Records", and "Wounded Knee Bulletin"; as well as documents and publications that include information on land disputes, political prisoners, occupations, politics, advocacy, protests, material regarding the case against Leonard Peltier, and other topics.

Dates

  • 1939-1997, 2005, 2007, undated
  • Majority of material found within 1970-1992

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

This collection contains material generated by Native American activists and activism groups who have been working toward justice for their communities. Represented here are materials from:



American Indian Movement (AIM)- a group which began in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota when Native American activists came together to discuss issues related to land disputes, federal Indian policy, and other topics.



The Trail of Broken Treaties: In November 1972, a group of Native Americans went to Washington D.C. with a list of demands in the form of a twenty point proposal to advocate for issues such as treaty rights and living standards for the Native American community. Frustrated that their demands were not being heard, protesters began occupying the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices. This occupation ended after a week, when the Nixon Administration met with protesters to further discuss treaty negotiations.



Also included is material related to the 500 Years of Resistance march and rally; land disputes at Big Mountain Reservation in the 1990’s; Western Bands of Shoshone Indians vs. United States of America; and material regarding the case against Leonard Peltier.

Extent

4 boxes

3.75 Linear Feet (one document case; two record storage boxes; one oversized carton)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains newspapers, magazines, newsletters, flyers, leaflets, books, and other documents related to Native American activism and history from 1939-early 1990s. Included are issues of "Treaty Council News", "Anthropological Records"; and "Wounded Knee Bulletin"; as well as documents and publications that include information on land disputes, political prisoners, occupations, politics, advocacy, protests, and other topics.

Existence and Location of Copies

Some material in this collection has been digitized. Please see inventory for information regarding access to digitized documents.

Related Materials

"Akwesasne Notes" [publication]; Native American Publications Collection.

Title
Inventory of the Native American Activism and Subject File Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Karen Clemons
Date
2019-11; 2023-10; 2024-10
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023-10: Publications removed from collection and incorporated into Native American Publications Collection: "Tribal Spokesman"; "Ya-Ka-Ama News"; "Wassaja Newspaper (Vol. 2, No. 8; and Vol. 3, No. 6)"; "Tsistsistas Press"; "Indian Affairs"; "White Cloud News": "Wassaja: The Indian Historian (Vol. 13, No. 1-4)"; "Civil Liberties"; "The Circle"; "Drums" Eagle Wing Press"; Indian Life"; Navajo Times (Vol. 16, No. 29-30); "Native Nevadan" (Vol. 8, No. 18-20, 22; Vol. 9, No. 1-10; Vol. 10, No. 2-12; Vol. XI, No. 1-5); "Nishnawbe News"; "Sacramento Indian Center News"; "Survial News"; "Warpath" (Vol. 4, No. 6, 8); "Winds of Change"; Winnebago Indian News"; Tribune and News"; "QUA'TOQTI" August 9, 1973; "Oyate Wicaho"; "Black Hills Paha Sapa Report"

Repository Details

Part of the California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson CA 90747
310-243-3895