“I was born on the reservation in 1973; On a trail of tears exiled in the land of the free; In the spirit of Crazy Horse and our people buried at Wounded Knee”

— Lyrics from the song "BORN ON THE REZ" / Written By: Robby Romero

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAIL OF BROKEN TREATIES

↓TREATY LAND ROCKUMENTARY TRAILER↓

On 17 September 1851 the historic Fort Laramie Treaty was signed between the United States and representatives of the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Crow, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations.

BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY...THE TREATY WAS BROKEN

1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie

In the century that followed, over 500 treaties made with Native Nations were also broken — which has degraded the lives of Indigenous Peoples and the environmental health of Mother Earth.

In 1972, American Indian Movement leaders Dennis Banks and Russell Means, along with Očhéthi Šakówin and Rosebud Sioux members, organized the Trail of Broken Treaties (TBT) and Pan American Native Quest for Justice. Expecting to deliver a 20-Point Position paper directly to President Nixon, on 2 November 1972, Indigenous peoples from the four corners of Turtle Island arrived in Washington, D.C. For six days, 2-8 November 1972, the TBT occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building capturing the world’s attention.

AIM 20-Point Position Paper

“We need not give another recitation of past complaints nor engage in redundant dialogue of discontent. Our conditions and their cause for being should perhaps be best known by those who have written the record of America’s action against Indian people. In 1832, Black Hawk correctly observed: You know the cause of our making war. It is known to all white men. They ought to be ashamed of it.”

“The government of the United States knows the reasons for our going to its capital city. Unfortunately, they don’t know how to greet us. We go because America has been only too ready to express shame, and suffer none from the expression—while remaining wholly unwilling to change to allow life for Indian people.”

“We seek a new American majority — a majority that is not content merely to confirm itself by superiority in numbers, but which by conscience is committed toward prevailing upon the public will in ceasing wrongs and in doing right.”

Dennis Banks Trail of Borken Treaties 1972.jpg

The Big Tipi Trail of Broken Treaties 1972.jpg

Russell Means Trail of Broken Treaties 1972.jpg

With the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Trail of Broken Treaties in November 2022, during National Native American Heritage Month, we urge the United States to do more than simply issue a proclamation or give empty words. We call on the U.S. to honor our treaties, respect our sovereignty, autonomy, and right to self-determination, and celebrate Indigenous Peoples in a meaningful way.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Ask the President of the United States, Joe Biden to #HonorTheTreaties