Chicago Conference
The Chicago Conference, held in 1961 at the University of Chicago, was a significant gathering of approximately 500 American Indians from across the United States. The primary focus of the conference was to establish policy goals for the Bureau of Indian Affairs under President John F. Kennedy's administration. Participants included a diverse array of tribal representatives, particularly from eastern tribes that were not federally recognized, who actively engaged in discussions about their needs and concerns. This meeting highlighted the tension between traditionalists and progressives within the community, fostering passionate debates on the future of Indian policy.
One of the key outcomes of the conference was the "Declaration of Indian Purpose," which called for the abandonment of the termination policy and proposed reforms within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The declaration emphasized the necessity for improved education, healthcare, and economic development for tribal communities. The Chicago Conference is often regarded as a catalyst for the Indian civil rights movement, paving the way for greater unity among tribal groups to advocate for their rights and address common issues. Furthermore, it inspired the formation of the National Indian Youth Council, a group that embraced a more radical approach to activism. Overall, the Chicago Conference marked a pivotal moment in the articulation of Indigenous concerns and the push for policy changes affecting American Indian communities.
Chicago Conference
This meeting of approximately five hundred American Indians from throughout the United States convened at the University of Chicago in 1961 to establish policy goals in the Bureau of Indian affairs for the presidential administration of John F. Kennedy. The conference brought together an eclectic mix of people and gave some voice to tribal groups, mostly from the eastern United States, that lacked federal recognition. Discussion of issues was impassioned and often pitted traditionalists against progressives.
This meeting marked the beginning of adamant, vocal, and sophisticated articulation of problems in Indian country and with federal Indian policy. The Declaration of Indian Purpose, a manifesto of sorts, came out of this meeting. The declaration called for abandonment of the termination policy and reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and for the government to address the need of tribes for better education, medical care, and economic development. The declaration was a statement of common needs. The National Indian Youth Council (1961), a split-off group of younger Indian people more willing to take a radical stance on issues, was inspired by this meeting. The Chicago Conference was a key event that began what is sometimes referred to as the Indian civil rights movement and marks a time when tribal groups often united to speak out on various common issues.
Bibliography
Fixico, Donald Lee. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Santa Barbara: Greenwood, 2012. Print.
Olson, James Stuart. Historical Dictionary of the 1960s. Westport: Greenwood, 1999. Print.
Ulrich, Roberta. American Indian Nations From Termination to Restoration, 1953–2006. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 2010. Print.
Wilkins, David E. American Indian Politics and the American Political System. Lanham: Rowman, 2007. Print.