55 Events That Shaped American Indian History : An Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic (9781440835773) by Martinez Donna (EDT); Bordeaux Jennifer Williams (EDT)

Author:Martinez, Donna (EDT); Bordeaux, Jennifer Williams (EDT)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abc-Clio Inc

The 1970s

During this time, the NCAI continued its moderate path. This lies in contrast to three groups founded in the previous decade: the American Indian Movement (AIM), the Indians of All Tribes (IOAT), and the United Native Americans (UNA). These groups were more militant in focus and took part in numerous occupations throughout the country to bring attention to their cause. Instead, the NCAI focused its efforts on working within Washington to push for change. According to Charles Trimble (Oglala Sioux), who served as executive director from 1972 until 1977, the NCAI almost collapsed in 1970 due to financial mismanagement the year before.

This decade bore witness to many positive changes for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Although such policies had waned by this time, in 1970, President Nixon officially ended the federal government’s push for tribal termination. Instead, he endorsed self-determination, which was a huge victory supported by the NCAI. In part, Nixon and his staff argued, “We have concluded that the Indians will get better programs and that public monies will be more effectively expended if the people who are most affected by these programs are responsible for operating them” (Nixon 1970).

Congress passed several key pieces of legislation with the support of groups like the NCAI, including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975), the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (1976), and finally, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Indian Child Welfare Act (1978). Ironically, this also came at a time when there was a “white backlash” from 1976 to 1977 that “saw the rise of state-level anti-tribal groups,” which sent over a dozen pieces of legislation to Congress “calling for reversing Indian hunting and fishing rights court victories, terminating federal-tribal relations, and abrogating the Indian treaties” (Trimble 2009). The NCAI was able to push through, with the help of other groups like the American Indian Law Center, NARF, AIM, and the NTCA under the name “United Effort Trust.”

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