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Similarities
- 1960s showed a new militancy within NA community and move towards unity instead of tribal separation
- 1961 Declaration of Indian Purpose at American Indian Conference (67 tribes represented) called for reforms in education, housing, welfare - more of a focus on self determination rather than reliance on government
- Rise of Red Power and AIM, occupation of Alcatraz 1969 - wanted to create cultural centre, lots of tribes involved, positive media attention
- National Indian Youth Council 1961 calling for end to efforts of assimilation
- NAs did show a militancy at the beginning of the period e.g. Battle of Little Bighorn 1876 with leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
- During WW1 and WW2 some regained sense of cultural identity again through reclaiming warrior role of defending their land, and some Choctaws able to use their native language as code talkers
- 1923 formation of American Indian Defence Association to campaign for rights and traditions, and 'The American Indian' magazine showing NA participation
- Indian New Deal 1934 did attempt to give some cultural rights back e.g. freedom to practise religion and tribal councils to lead tribes again
- National Congress of the American Indian 1944 - attempts to challenge discrimination and legal problems
- Termination saw 100,000 NAs leave reservations, so preserved heritage in ghettos through creating self-help groups and social centres
- Similar militancy throughout 1970s-1990s with development of red nationalism, occupation of Mount Rushmore 1971 to assert ownership over burial grounds, AIM occupation of Wounded Knee 1973
- Regained a lot of cultural rights e.g. Native American Freedom Act 1978 (right to practise religion), Native American Graves Protection Act 1990
- AIM took over Bureau in 1971
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Differences
- Much different to beginning of period when tribal divisions meant NAs could not present a unified front against whites
- NAs showed little resistance to government attempts to assimilate with some even thriving under Dawes Act 1887, highly dependant on the government in reservations 'we have made beggars of them'
- Attempts to remove culture by government through boarding schools and Indian Citizenship Act 1924
- Indian New Deal 1934 was not what NAs wanted, it was decided by white people, John Collier didn't consult them, continued paternalist attitudes, many NAs actually voted against the bill
- Termination stopped government dependency, but meant increased overcrowding, disease, alcoholism on reservations and an unemployment rate of 18% in cities and inadequate housing
- In 1970s-90s lots of the changes came from the government not from NAs themselves e.g. 1980 US v. Sioux Nation Supreme Court offered Sioux compensation for Black Hills, but they refused
- Not much improvement in social situation 1970s-90s, with high alcoholism on reservations (84% arrests), unemployment at 70% and income only half American average
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