The Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. was taken over from November 3 to 9, 1972 by the American Indian Movement. Here, Daniel L. Smith returns to the site and tells us about this event.
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Tipi with the sign "American Indian Movement" on the grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. in 1978. Source: Warren K. Leffler, available here.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters building was raided, ransacked, vandalized, and ultimately occupied for almost a week from November 3 to 9, 1972.
Nearly 500 Native Americans marching with the American Indian Movement (AIM – a progressive grassroots movement) ended their attention grabbing parade called the Trail of Broken Treaties, in front of the BIA building in Washington D.C. This cross-country political parade was intended to highlight Native Americans’ social issues, such as their standard of living and obligated treaty rights as legally sovereign nations.
Activist and news contributor Bob Simpson would point out that “leaders of the Trail of Broken Treaties were negotiating with the Interior Department over the question of housing. Suddenly fighting broke out between several GSA security guards and a group of young Indians.” He goes on to say that “apparently the guards misunderstood that the BIA had given the Indians permission to stay in the building past closing time. The guards were quickly overpowered and escorted from the building. Indians ran through the BIA building at 19th and Constitution, breaking up furniture to barricade entrances and manufacture makeshift weapons. The occupation was on.”[1]
Once inside the BIA’s building, protesters displayed their frustration towards the interior of the building. They threw furniture against windows and doors barricading themselves against potential police interference. Other members of the group set multiple fires in different interior offices and vandalized the polished marble lobbies. Unfortunately many historic documents were destroyed in the vandalism.[2]
The following day on November 4, John Chancellor, reporting desk anchor for NBC News said: “Several hundred American Indians remained in the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington today. They took it over late yesterday after scuffles with police.” Moments later, news field-anchor John Cochran reported live stating: “It was peaceful if not quiet at the Indian Affairs Bureau, but nothing was settled today. The Indians are waiting for the Administration to respond to their demands for reforms in the way the government deals with Indians. And they’re asking for a decent place to eat and sleep while in Washington. Until they get it, they vow to stay in what they call their embassy.”[3]
Altercations and Theft
After a few days of altercation, the protesters began to run out of supplies. There was quickly little food and provisions to sustain their opportunistic operation. The AIM protesters would not allow police or government representatives to cross into the Bureau of Indian Affairs building. Because of this, two children of BIA employees were recruited to bring in supplies and rations to the protesters.
It was reported that the AIM’s actions created the loss, destruction, and theft of many historical records—mainly critical treaties, property deeds, and water rights documentation.[4] Even Native American officials stated that the consequences of the AIM’s actions could set Native American culture back 50 to 100 years—with a final estimated loss of nearly $2.28 million dollars in damages and theft by the hostile takeover of the BIA to the American taxpayer.[5]
In the end, it was the Nixon Administration who would secretly sign the “Menominee Restoration Act” on December 22, 1973. This policy would ultimately give the Menominee fully-recognized tribal status by the U.S. government, and return their land assets to trust status. Although only one tribe benefitted from this policy, it was a direct message sent to those who understood Nixon’s political interests - especially when it could be seen that his administration quite quickly agreed to these demands.
Corruption Through Proxy
More broadly, Nixon did have some sympathy with the Native American rights movement. Prior to the BIA takeover in Washington D.C, President Nixon stated in his 1970 address to Congress:
“The special relationship between Indians and the Federal government is the result instead of solemn obligations which have been entered into by the United States Government. Down through the years, through written treaties and through formal and informal agreements, our government has made specific commitments to the Indian people.
For their part, the Indians have often surrendered claims to vast tracts of land and have accepted life on government reservations. In exchange, the government has agreed to provide community services such as health, education and public safety, services which would presumably allow Indian communities to enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of other Americans.
This goal, of course has never been achieved…”[6]
Younger Native Americans and First Nations peoples would give the most support to the American Indian Movement’s radical cause. The groups and entities found sympathetic to the BIA takeover of 1972 were:
· The National Indian Brotherhood of Canada
· Native American Civil Rights Fund
· Native Indian Youth Council
· National American Indian Council
· National Council on Indian Work
· National Indian Leadership Training
· American Indian Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Other entities that endorsed and supported the takeover were:
· The Native American Women’s Action Council
· United Native Americans
· National Indian Lutheran Board
· Coalition of Indian-Controlled School Boards
· Black Panther Party for Self Defense
To Conclude
There is almost always a political motive behind current events. Occupations, building takeovers, and progressive grassroots movements are all just a part of radical American history. It takes a certain rebellious ideology to undertake this type of insubordinate behavior and defiant action.
This is also the same type of ideology and behavior that commits citizens to the destruction of their own history.
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
You can read a selection of Daniel’s past articles on: California in the US Civil War (here), Spanish Colonial Influence on Native Americans in Northern California (here), Christian ideology in history (here), the collapse of the Spanish Armada in 1588 (here), early Christianity in Britain (here), the First Anglo-Dutch War (here), and the 1918 Spanish Influenza outbreak (here).
Finally, Daniel Smith writes at complexamerica.org.
[1] Simpson, Robert. "Native Americans Take Over Bureau of Indian Affairs: 1972." Washington Area Spark. Last modified May 10, 2013. https://washingtonareaspark.com/2013/03/26/native-americans-take-over-bureau-of-indian-affairs-1972/.
[2] The Washington Post (Washington D.C.). "Amnesty Denied To Indians." November 10, 1972. https://www.maquah.net/Historical/1972/images/72-11-10_amnesty_denied.jpg. Note: An initial first estimate was officialized at about $250,000 in damages within the building.
[3] "Occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs" NBC News, New York, NY: NBC Universal, 11/03/1972. Accessed Sat Jan 11 2020 from NBC Learn: https://highered.nbclearn.com/portal/site/HigherEd/browse/?cuecard=5170
[4] The Washington Post (Washington D.C.). " Justice Eyes Way to Charge Indians.” November 10, 1972. https://www.maquah.net/Historical/1972/images/72-11-1_justice_charge_indians.jpg.
[5] The Washington Post (Washington D.C.). " Damage to BIA Third Heaviest Ever in U.S..” November 11, 1972. https://www.maquah.net/Historical/1972/images/72-11-11_damage_to_BIA.jpg.
[6] Nixon, Richard. "Special Message to the Congress on Indian Affairs." The American Presidency Project. Last modified July 8, 1970. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/special-message-the-congress-indian-affairs.
