Red Power

Posted by Jeffrey R Gudzune Apr 17, 2007

Not only did proponents of the Red Power movement demonstrate against the transgressions of the U.S. government, they also sought to expose internal mismanagement by tribal leaders. This was among the founding principals of organizations like AIM. The reactionary tactics employed by AIM and its student leaders paralleled the activism of thier contemporaries in the more radicle ant-war, civil rights (or Black Power), and even feminist movements. Shock value was at the core of thier activities--the occupation of federal lands as a metaphor for the taking of Indian land, the capture of a representation of the vessel that had brought colonists to this "New Wolrd," and even a coup within an Indian reservation. All of these activities defied conventional norms and focused attention on the plight of Native Americans. How then does this compare to the attention gained by the activities of grass roots organizations?

Generally, any type of publicity is good for an organization so long as that publicity focuses on what that organization espouses. By and large, the grass roots activists received media attention with respect to thier causes. What the more radical organizations managed to achieve through thier actions was sustained attention through bold and, as exemplified at Pine Ridge, often provacative activities. This is not meant as a justicifation, nor is it an indictment, it is merely fact.