Native American Timeline – 20th Century & Beyond

"Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand."

– Tribe Unknown

The narrative of Native Americans in the 20th century and beyond is a complex tapestry woven with threads of assimilation, resistance, resilience, and resurgence. As the United States entered the 20th century, the official policy aimed at integrating Native Americans into mainstream American society. This assimilation effort sought to dismantle indigenous cultures and traditions, compelling Native Americans to adopt a new way of life. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) played a pivotal role in this endeavor, acting as the intermediary between the federal government and the various Native American tribes.

However, by 1934, the assimilationist approach had largely failed. The government shifted its policy with the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act, which aimed to reverse the assimilation trend and strengthen tribal identities, traditions, and cultures. Despite this change, the memories of past injustices lingered. Over the following decades, the U.S. government enacted further legislation to integrate Native Americans into mainstream American society. By the 1950s, Congress sought to abolish tribes, relocate Native Americans, and implement a federal policy of termination. From the government’s perspective, Native Americans were to become taxpaying citizens, subject to state and federal taxes and laws from which they had previously been exempt.

However, a Native American Civil Rights Movement emerged, raising awareness and promoting a political agenda. Numerous lawsuits were filed in the second half of the 20th century to address historical injustices.

Let’s delve into a detailed timeline of key events that shaped the Native American experience during this period:

1900-1930: Early 20th Century – Assimilation and Early Resistance

• 1900: Edward S. Curtis, a photographer, began documenting Western Indians, capturing their way of life in a 20-volume work.
• 1903: The Supreme Court decision in Lone Wolf vs. Hickcock affirmed Congress’s power to repeal provisions of Indian treaties, undermining tribal sovereignty.
• 1906: The Antiquities Act declared that Indian bones and objects found on federal land were the property of the United States.
• 1907: Oklahoma was established by merging Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory, opening the latter to non-Indian settlement. Charles Curtis became the first Native American U.S. Senator.
• 1908: The Winters v. United States Supreme Court decision established that when Congress created reservations, it implicitly intended that Indians should have enough water to live.
• 1911: The Society of American Indians was formed, marking the first step toward pan-Indian unity and advocating for reform issues.
• 1912: Jim Thorpe won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the Stockholm Olympics.
• 1916: New York became the first state to celebrate American Indian Day.
• 1917: About 17,000 Indians served in the armed forces during World War I.
• 1918: The Native American Church was organized in Oklahoma, blending traditional Indian practices with Christian beliefs.
• 1919: Indian veterans of World War I were granted citizenship.
• 1924: The Indian Citizenship Act extended citizenship to all American Indians born in the U.S.
• 1928: The Meriam Report highlighted the poverty, ill health, and despair prevalent in many Indian communities and recommended reforms.
• 1929: Charles Curtis served as the first Native American U.S. Vice President under President Herbert Hoover.

1930-1950: The Indian New Deal and World War II

• 1934: The Indian Reorganization Act, part of the Indian New Deal, aimed to revitalize Indian cultures, languages, and governments.
• 1941: During World War II, about 25,000 American Indians served in the armed forces, including the Navajo and Comanche Code Talkers.
• 1944: The National Congress of American Indians was established to monitor federal policies.
• 1946: The Indian Claims Commission Act was created to address tribal grievances over treaty enforcement and resource management.
• 1948: States were required to grant Native Americans the right to vote.

1950-1970: Termination and Relocation

• 1950s: Cherokee Admiral Joseph J. “Jocko” Clark commanded the U.S. Seventh Fleet during the Korean War.
• 1953: Congress sought to abolish tribes, relocate American Indians, and pass a federal termination policy. Public Law 280 transferred jurisdiction over most tribal lands to state governments in several states. The Bureau of Indian Affairs implemented a policy to relocate Indians to urban areas.
• 1954: Public Law 83-568 transferred responsibility for American Indians’ health care from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Public Health Services.
• 1956: The Indian Relocation Act established vocational training to encourage Indians to move off reservations.
• 1961: The National Indian Youth Council sought to resurrect national pride among young Indian people.
• 1968: The Indian Civil Rights Act revised Public Law 280 and gave tribal members most of the protections of the Bill of Rights. The American Indian Movement (AIM) was established to confront the U.S. government and gain civil rights.
• 1969: “Indians of All Tribes” occupied Alcatraz, California, to claim it as an Indian Reservation and cultural center.

1970-1990: Self-Determination and Cultural Resurgence

• 1970: President Nixon denounced past federal policies, formally ending the termination policy, and called for a new era of self-determination for Indian peoples.
• 1971: Congress approved the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
• 1972: The Trail of Broken Treaties protest occurred when Indian activists traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Bureau of Indian Affairs officials.
• 1973: Members of the American Indian Movement occupied the site of Wounded Knee in South Dakota.
• 1975: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act recognized the obligation of the U.S. to provide for maximum participation by American Indians in Federal services.
• 1978: The American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise traditional religions. The Indian Child Welfare Act addressed the widespread practice of transferring the care and custody of Indian children to non-Indians.
• 1979: The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Gaming was established.
• 1980: The United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians Supreme Court decision ruled that the Sioux Indians were entitled to compensation for the unjust taking of the Black Hills.
• 1985: Wilma Mankiller became the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
• 1988: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act affirmed the right of tribes to conduct gaming on Indian lands.
• 1990: The Native American Languages Act made it U.S. policy to preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages. The Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act required all institutions that receive federal funds to inventory their collections of Indian human remains and artifacts and return any items requested by the tribes.

1990-Present: Contemporary Issues and Continued Advocacy

• 1992: The Mashantucket Pequot opened the first large casino in the United States – the Foxwoods Casino of Connecticut.
• 1996: President Clinton authorized an Executive Order on Tribal Colleges and Universities.
• 2000: The U.S. Mint issues a dollar coin with the image of Sacagawea.
• 2004: The National Museum of the American Indian opens in Washington, D.C.
• 2008: The Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast adopted marriage equality policies.
• 2009: President Obama signed Native American Apology Resolution.
• 2010: President Obama signed legislation to pay American Indians and black farmers for government mistreatment.

The timeline of Native Americans in the 20th century and beyond reflects a narrative of loss, resilience, and resurgence. Despite the challenges and injustices faced, Native Americans have persevered, advocating for their rights, preserving their cultures, and working towards a future of self-determination and sovereignty.

Note: This article is a rewritten version of the original article, providing a more informative and descriptive narrative while maintaining the original title.