American Indian Movement Research Paper
AIM, standing for American Indian Movement, was an advocacy group for Indian rights in the United States. Known for its militancy, AIM was one of the most dazzling and promising Indian organizations after its creation. However, it turned out to have a mixed and to an extent ineffective result due to its general failure in fulfilling its main goals of positive imaging, enforcement of past treaties and reclamation of lost lands, let alone its ultimate wish of the resurgence of Indian power.
One of the reason that prompted AIM into existence is the clashes between Native and the US government on the topic of past treaties, yet failing most of its attempts to gain little during all of the negotiations due to its lack of leverage. Its most famous …show more content…
Its most famous occupation was in the Wounded Knee. In 1973, AIM, with the request of tribal leaders, seized the Wounded Knee (a Catholic church, trading post, and post office), in a demand of the return of the Great Sioux Nation which was allegedly promised to them by the United States in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Its strategies stretched from taking hostages, military confrontation, to the declaration of independence. However, due to its lack of leverage over the government, its inferior weapons, and the absence of a good plan, AIM was in the lower hand at all times. In the end, the situation fell into a stalemate where not a single measure could be taken anymore for AIM, it surrendered and omitted its origination wish. As a result, many of AIM’s core member was arrested and the organization almost collapsed; its influence and power greatly declined, marking the fall of AIM.
AIM has always wanted to establish a positive image for the Indians since the start. It often tried to present Indian’s masculinity and strength to the media. However, due to its violence and hot temperedness in most of its movement and occupations, it was generally portrayed and perceived as violent, vandalistic, and mob-like. Even within some of the Indian tribes, there are voices who criticized AIM as brutish and misrepresentative of the Indian
One of the reason that prompted AIM into existence is the clashes between Native and the US government on the topic of past treaties, yet failing most of its attempts to gain little during all of the negotiations due to its lack of leverage. Its most famous …show more content…
Its most famous occupation was in the Wounded Knee. In 1973, AIM, with the request of tribal leaders, seized the Wounded Knee (a Catholic church, trading post, and post office), in a demand of the return of the Great Sioux Nation which was allegedly promised to them by the United States in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Its strategies stretched from taking hostages, military confrontation, to the declaration of independence. However, due to its lack of leverage over the government, its inferior weapons, and the absence of a good plan, AIM was in the lower hand at all times. In the end, the situation fell into a stalemate where not a single measure could be taken anymore for AIM, it surrendered and omitted its origination wish. As a result, many of AIM’s core member was arrested and the organization almost collapsed; its influence and power greatly declined, marking the fall of AIM.
AIM has always wanted to establish a positive image for the Indians since the start. It often tried to present Indian’s masculinity and strength to the media. However, due to its violence and hot temperedness in most of its movement and occupations, it was generally portrayed and perceived as violent, vandalistic, and mob-like. Even within some of the Indian tribes, there are voices who criticized AIM as brutish and misrepresentative of the Indian