Friends of the Indian Organizations
Friends of the Indian Organizations were established in the late 19th century primarily by eastern Christian humanitarians who aimed to influence federal Indian policy. These organizations sought to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society, believing in the superiority of Christian civilization over indigenous cultures. Their initiatives included promoting the allotment system, which aimed to dismantle tribal land ownership and encourage individual property ownership among Native Americans. They also advocated for vocational education, particularly through boarding schools, while displaying intolerance towards traditional cultural practices and spiritual expressions, attempting to outlaw ceremonies such as Sun Dances and vision quests.
These reformers engaged in lobbying efforts with federal officials and aimed to educate the public about their cause through newsletters and public speaking. They convened annually at the Lake Mohonk Conference to coordinate their activities and shared a common belief that they were fulfilling a divine purpose in their mission. Their efforts significantly influenced federal policies, particularly in education and land ownership, well into the 20th century. One enduring legacy of these organizations is the Indian Rights Association, which has since shifted its focus to support tribal self-determination and indigenous rights.
Friends of the Indian Organizations
Date: 1879-1900’s
Tribes affected: Pantribal
Significance: A variety of humanitarian Christian associations sought to reform federal Indian policy by supporting legislation aimed at abolishing “Indianness” and substituting American ideals of individualism, ownership, and Christianity
Friends of the Indian organizations were formed in the last two decades of the nineteenth century by mainly eastern Christian humanitarians who were determined to influence federal Indian policy. Members of these organizations were convinced of the superiority of Christian civilization and were determined to do away with Indianness and tribal traditions; their goal was to turn individual Indians into patriotic American citizens.
The friends of the Indian groups supported the allotment system in order to break up tribal land ownership and force individual ownership; they sought to end tribal jurisdiction and bring American Indians as individual citizens before the law. They supported vocational education for Indian children, particularly boarding schools, and they were generally intolerant of Indian culture or spiritual expression and worked to outlaw Sun Dances, vision questing, giveaways, plural marriages, and so on. These well-intentioned Christian men and women sought to influence and direct Indian policy by engaging in intense lobbying efforts with federal officials and by educating the general public through newsletters, pamphlets, and speakers. These reformers and their supporters were convinced of the righteousness of their cause and greatly affected federal Indian policy well into the twentieth century.
Beginning in 1883 these groups came together annually for the Lake Mohonk Conference of the Friends of the Indian in New Paltz, New York, to coordinate their efforts. General harmony and a good working relationship existed among the various groups because they shared a common religious outlook that they were doing God’s will by guiding Indians from savagery to civilization. The most significant and far-reaching areas affected by these organizations were the federal Indian education system and the General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) of 1887. One of the most prominent groups, the Indian Rights Association, continues to exist; however, it now supports tribalism and tribal self-determination.