The University of New Mexico
Collection Summary | ||
| Title | Roger A. Finzel American Indian Movement Papers | |
| Dates (Inclusive) | 1965-1995 (bulk 1973-1979) | |
| Creator | Finzel, Roger A. | |
| Abstract | This collection documents activities of the American Indian Movement (AIM), including the takeover of Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota by AIM. Also documented are the circumstances underlying the takeover, the aftermath, and individual court cases associated with Wounded Knee and the American Indian Movement. Materials relevant to Native American issues such as sovereignty, land, water, resources, health and education are also included in the collection. | |
| Collection Number | MSS 711 BC | |
| Size | 4 boxes (3.25 cu. ft.) | |
| Repository | University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research. | |
| Language | English. | |
As members of the National Lawyers Guild, the legal arm of progressive movements since 1937, Roger Finzel and Eda Gordon volunteered to join the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee, formed after the 1973 liberation of the Wounded Knee Massacre site on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Finzel, a Washington, D.C. attorney, served as a staff attorney for the Defense Committee, representing some of the 375 people charged with federal crimes arising from that struggle. Gordon, a former editor of Trial Magazine, published by the American Trial Lawyers Association, served first as the committee's press liaison and later as an investigator of Wounded Knee cases. As press liaison, she worked with international, national, and local press, prepared press releases, published the committee newsletter, and developed public education materials about the pending Wounded Knee cases and the reign of terror on the reservation under the brutal regime of tribal chairman Dick Wilson.
After being assaulted by Wilson's goon squad, Finzel and Gordon moved to Washington, D.C., where they continued support work on behalf of traditional Native American peoples and their support groups (Committee on Native American Struggles (CONAS), Native American Solidarity Committee (NASC), Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC), to name a few). It was through their lobbying efforts that the first meeting in modern times was arranged between Lakota traditional chiefs and the President of the United States, then Gerald Ford. They were also part of a team that prepared the first report to the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples of the United Nations.
In 1977, Finzel and Gordon moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Finzel worked as a staff attorney for the National Indian Youth Council, representing the traditional Choctaw/Chickasaw Tribal Councils seeking to maintain their traditional governmental structure. While carrying over her support work from Washington, Gordon focused on violations of sovereignty by energy exploitation of native lands in New Mexico and the West. With the National Lawyers Guild, they helped investigate and write a comprehensive report exposing energy exploitation of native lands in the southwest.
Finzel became a volunteer counsel to American Indians Against Desecration (AIAD). This organization was formed from a request by religious leaders at an International Indian Treaty Council meeting. From the late 1970s through the early 1990s they agitated, met, organized, sued, etc. to repatriate the remains of the ancestors stored in museums and laboratories around the world. As counsel for AIAD, Finzel was one of the lawyers in the Yellow Thunder Camp case in South Dakota, seeking to use a few acres of the sacred Black Hills for a traditional Indian religious camp.
Finzel is now a Federal Public Defender in Albuquerque. Gordon is a private investigator and trial consultant working out of Santa Fe.
"We Remember Wounded Knee" from AIM Pamphlet. (Box 1, Folder 7).
Although this collection spans the timeframe 1965-1995, the bulk of the material focuses on 1973-1979, the time, circumstances, and repercussions of the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota by 300 Indians led by members of the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization (OSCRO) and the American Indian Movement (AIM). The collection is divided into 4 overlapping series, specifically, American Indian Movement /Bureau of Indian Affairs (AIM/BIA), Wounded Knee and Its Aftermath, Native American Issues, and Publications.
The AIM/BIA series contains general background materials on the American Indian Movement and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Wounded Knee materials include court cases, legal documents, statements, correspondence, press materials, news clippings, papers, reports, poetry, artwork, etc. Documentation in this series details the Wounded Knee occupation and resultant events and issues, including legal matters pertaining to prominent AIM members Russell Means, Robert Robideau, Darrel Butler, Dennis Banks, and Leonard Peltier as well as documentation detailing the operations of FBI informant, Douglas Durham. Investigations into Pine Ridge Tribal elections, police assaults, allegations of gun running and Indian militancy, the death of Anna Mae Aquash are subjects included in this series. Text and reports of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings pertaining to AIM and the Wounded Knee Massacre are also contained in this series. Much of the material was accumulated or produced by the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee.
The Native American Issues series provides research materials on topics such as sovereignty, land, water, energy, human rights, education, health (including sterilization), racism, at the like. Reports, press releases, news clippings, articles, legal documents, and ephemera provide insight into the issues. Some materials relate specifically to Navajo, Akwesasne Mohawk, and Menominee tribes. This series contains materials produced by the Native American Solidarity Committee, International Indian Treaty Council, July 4th Coalition, and National Indian Youth Council.
The Publications series contains scattered issues of a variety of Native American related publications, including Americans Before Columbus, Big Mountain News, Black Hills Paha Sapa Report, Oyate News, Spirit of the People, Tribal Peoples Survival. The particular issues in this collection pertain to subjects in the previous series.
The collection was generally kept in original order using original folder names where possible.
The collection is open for research.
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Roger A. Finzel American Indian Movement Papers (MSS 711 BC), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.
Photographs have been transferred to Roger A. Finzel Photograph Collection.
Original audiocassettes stored in B3.
Robert L. Anderson American Indian Movement Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
Kay Cole Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
Robert E. Robideau American Indian Movement Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
Carol Sullivan Wounded Knee Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
National Indian Youth Council Records Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
Sophie D. Aberle Papers Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico.
Eda Gordon Papers Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico.
Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
John Redhouse Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
Energy development--Navajo Indian Reservation
Government, Resistance to--United States.
Indians of North America--Civil rights
Indians of North America--Ethnic identity
Indians of North America--Government relations
Indians of North America--Land tenure
Oglala Indians--Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (S.D.)
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (S.D.)
Political persecution--Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (S.D.)
United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation--Political activity
Wounded Knee (S.D.)--History--Indian occupation, 1973
Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee
| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
International Indian Treaty Council - "History and Goals of the
American Indian Movement (AIM)," n.d.
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American Indian Movement - Fact sheets, fliers, ephemera, copies of FBI
files on AIM obtained via Freedom of Information Act, press releases, personal
narratives/statements, artwork, correspondence, newsletters, civil complaint,
clippings/articles, BIA surveillance memorandum,1973-1982.
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Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - "The Structure of the BIA," by Steve
Nickeson, investigation of BIA by the Indian Policy Review Commission,
newspaper articles, news release, 1975-1978.
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Marshal - Excerpts from Wounded Knee log (February-May, 1973),
correspondence, news clippings, 1973. |
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Wounded Knee Defense Committee - Motion for waiver of the 15 day notice
requirement for a rally in front of the White House and related legal papers,
1973.
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Shoot out at Wounded Knee - Transcripts of BIA tapes; FBI transcripts;
discovery notes; newsletters; newspaper clippings; legal papers; journal of Ron
Harvey, 1973-1974.
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Wounded Knee, Part 1 - Personal statements by Russell Means and others,
accounts and chronologies, newspaper and journal articles,
1973.
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Wounded Knee, Part 2 - Information packet, Wounded Knee Legal
Defense/Offense Committee material, newspaper articles, conference paper given
by Kenneth Tilsen, artwork, poetry, summary of Wounded Knee events,
correspondence, affidavit of Pedro Bissonette, 1973-1995.
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Legal Pleadings - Participants at Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation,
1973-1974.
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Pine Ridge Reservation - Petition to revoke the constitution and
by-laws of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; Pine Ridge Commission report,
1973-1975.
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Douglas Durham, FBI Informant at Wounded Knee, Part 1 - Interviews,
press releases, correspondence, newspaper clippings, court papers, press
conference material, notes, FBI and police transcripts, reports,
1973-1976.
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Douglas Durham, Part 2 - Two cassette tapes of Durham at Aberdeen South
Dakota John Birch Society meeting discussing AIM, correspondence,
1975.
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USA v. Darrel Dean Butler and Robert Eugene
Robideau - FBI murder case. Includes court/legal documents, press
releases, newspaper articles, correspondence, 1975-1976.
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USA v. Robideau and Butler - Jack Anderson
report, ABC, cartoon, testimony of Clarence Kelley (Director of the FBI),
1976.
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USA v. Russell Means - Affidavits in support of
Motion for Change of Venue, 1973.
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USA v. Russell Means and Dennis Banks in the US Court
of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - Brief of Appellees,
1975.
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State of South Dakota v. Russell Means -
Motions, applications, referee's report, findings, amendments,
1976-1977.
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State of South Dakota v. Russell Means -
Application for amendment of order for bail pending appeal,
1977,
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Russell Means, Part 1 - Brief in opposition to state's application for
revocation of bail, transcript and pleadings, correspondence,
1977.
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Russell Means, Part 2 - Brief in opposition to state's application for
revocation of bail, transcript and pleadings (continued),
1977.
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Russell Means - Declarations in support of bond or release from prison,
1978.
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Declaration of Amnesty - Attorney Roger A. Finzel for Russell Means,
1978.
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Russell Means - Notes for presentation, correspondence, newspaper
articles, 1976-1980.
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Pine Ridge Tribal General Election - Means v.
Wilson , "Report of the Investigation: Oglala Sioux Tribe General
Election." Includes legal papers, relevant case copy from the Federal Reporter, correspondence, election
material, 1974-1975.
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Leonard Peltier - Legal brief, speeches by John Trudell and Susan Saxe,
press releases, newspaper articles, newsletters, flyers, information packets,
1977-1979.
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Anna Mae Aquash - Newspaper and magazine articles, testimony,
correspondence, news releases, 1976-1977.
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Edgar O. Bear Runner - Police assault case. Correspondence, personal
statement, 1976-1977.
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Shooting of Lawrence Picotte by Kansas Police - Offense reports,
investigation/arrest reports, evidence reports, voluntary statements, finger
print and ballistic reports, instructions to coroner's jury, correspondence,
1977.
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Law Enforcement at Eagle Nest District, Pine Ridge Reservation -
Resolutions, witness statements, 1976.
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False Accusations against the AIM in Teletypes - Newspaper articles,
press releases, teletypes, 1976.
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Bay Area Wounded Knee Support Committee - Updates, newsletters,
correspondence, 1975-1976.
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Skyhorse/Mohawk Defense Committee, Part 1 - Paul Skyhorse and Richard
Mohawk trial materials. Includes news releases, information packets, newspaper
clippings, correspondence, 1977-1978.
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Skyhorse/Mohawk Defense Committee, Part 2 - Paul Skyhorse and Richard
Mohawk trial materials. Includes memoranda, legal papers, Offer of Proof and
Memorandum of Law, 1978.
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Ted Means v. Honorable Herman Solem, Warden, South
Dakota State Penitentiary - Court papers relating to Means allegedly
rioting to obstruct a police officer, 1979.
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Revolutionary Activities within the US: The American
Indian Movement - Hearing of the Committee on the Judiciary,
1976.
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Senate Internal Subcommittee, Committee of the Judiciary - Reports,
correspondence, and other material relating to internal security hearings,
specifically AIM, 1976.
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Compensation Hearing for "The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890"- Expert
witness statements and testimony, newspaper articles,
1976.
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tribal Sovereignty and Jurisdiction - Court cases, legal papers,
correspondence, analysis, copies of articles from law journals. Cases
include: Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, Oliphant v.
Squamish Indian tribe et al, Dry Creek Lodge Inc. v. Arapaho and Shoshone
tribes, 1976-1978.
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The Longest Walk - Newspaper articles, manifesto, Affirmation of
Sovereignty of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere,"
1978.
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White Backlash to Indian Sovereignty - Hearing transcript,
correspondence, newspaper articles, notes, copies of Acts of Congress,
bills, resolutions, analysis, ACLU response, 1975-1979.
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Trail of Self Determination - Proposal, newspaper articles, flyers,
newsletters, correspondence, Constitution of the Chickasaw nation,
1976-1978.
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Menominee Tribe - Historical sketch, copy of FBI report, newspaper
articles, newsletter, journal article, 1974-1976.
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Menominee Tribe - Alleged Violations of Federally Protected Rights
as per the Menominee Restoration Act. Includes civil complaint, US District
Court papers for the District of Columbia, 1977.
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Akwesasne Mohawk Nation - Sovereignty, self determination, treaty
dispute. Includes newspaper and journal articles, press releases, copy of
Article VII of the 1979 Canadaiqua Treaty, copy of treaty with the Six
Nations of 1794, correspondence, 1979-1980.
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Reports - "Indian Self Government: An Alternative to Rule by a
Federal Department" "Indian Tribal Determination Act;" 1972
"Economic Development: An Indian Viewpoint" |
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Native Land and Water Issues - Discussion manual, newspaper and
magazine articles, press releases, declarations and information packets,
court papers, news letters, brochures, and bumper
stickers,1970-1981
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Yellow Thunder Camp - Correspondence, newspaper articles,
questionnaire, court documents, press releases,
1981-1983.
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Ganienkeh ("Land of the Flint") - Manifesto, newspaper, newsletters,
1974-1975.
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International Indian Treaty Council - Declaration, press
strategy/releases, meeting minutes, notes, flyers and brochures, newspaper
articles, reports, Treaty Council News,
1974-1981.
|
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Native American Solidarity Committee - Brochure, newsletters,
newspaper articles, position papers, stickers and handbills, "To Fish in
Common: Fishing Rights in the Northwest," 1975-1978.
|
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Indian Land Claims in Maine - Legal documents, correspondence, press
release, copies of Congressional Record,
newspaper articles, 1972-1977.
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"Indian Water Rights" - Draft of workbook by Steve Nickeson,
1977.
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Navajo Land and Mineral Disputes - Journal and newspaper articles,
exhibits of legal action, news release, legal papers, speech, information
handout, 1975-1985.
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"The Navajo Nation and Energy Development"A Study of Cultural,
Social, and Political Environments" - Manuscript by James M. Goodman,
n.d.
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Mining and Energy Development on Indian Land, Part 1 - Reports,
flyers, brochures, pamphlets, newspaper and journal articles, manuscripts,
publications, notes, newsletters, 1976-1982
|
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Mining and Energy Development on Indian Land, Part 2 - Position
papers, newspaper and journal articles, conference reports, newsletters,
handbook; 1977-1982.
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Native American Appropriate Technology Action Council - Solar
greenhouse guide, training manual, grant application. (Sponsored by NIYC),
1978.
|
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States Violations of American Indian Human and Civil Rights -
Reports, correspondence, newspaper articles, 1977-1979.
|
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Discrimination against Indian Prisoners - Report, correspondence,
statistics, newspaper articles, brochure, 1965-1979.
|
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International Jurists - Reports and findings, general complaint,
1979.
|
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indian Health - Workshop material, status reports, conference
literature, briefing material (The American Indian School of Medicine),
newsletters, correspondence, newspaper articles,
1976-1978.
|
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"The Federal Trust Responsibility and the Obligation to Provide
Health Care to Indian People" - Manuscript by Marcia Wilson,
1980.
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Sterilization, Part 1 - Reports, journal and newspaper articles,
research studies, research notes, pamphlets, brochures, booklets, conference
material, Federal Register, newsletters, 1973-1978.
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Sterilization, Part 2 - Correspondence, reports and studies, news
release, 1974-1977.
|
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Women of All Red Nations Pine Ridge Health Report - Newspaper
articles, press releases, heath studies and reports, technical reports,
correspondence, 1980.
|
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indian Education - Reports: "Native Problems in Community Education" "The Misuse of Federal Funds for Indian Education" "Constitutional Law vs. 'Tribal Law'" "American Indian Culture and Tradition" "Stereotypes, Distortions and Omissions in US history books" "Federation of Native Controlled Survival Schools" "Pine Ridge Education/Action Project," 1973-1978. |
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 4th Coalition - Position statement, correspondence, news
release, brochures and flyers, newspaper articles,
1976.
|
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(NASC) Legal Repression Document Program - Statement of purpose,
correspondence, notes, research material, 1977.
|
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Community Corrections Resource Programs - "Swift Bird Corrections
Center Feasibility Study Summary Report", 1976.
|
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National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) - Brochures, history and
objective of NIYC, annual report, newsletter/appeal, news releases, poem,
public interest practice firms directory, 1976-1978.
|
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Lawyers Guild - Committee on Native American Struggles
Projects, magazine articles, conference proceedings summary, newspaper
articles, 1976-1986.
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Legal and Political Policy - Manuscripts, correspondence, comments,
1972-1979.
|
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Namibia, Southern Africa, 1971-1977
|
|||||
Southern Africa, Namibia - United Nations resolutions and reports, information and support request |
|
||||
"The AMAX War Against Humanity: A Case Study of a Multinational Corporation's Robbery of Namibian Copper and Cheyenne Coal," by the People's Grand Jury |
|
||||
"US Policy and Southern Africa" - Talk given by Passen J.
Mitchell, newspaper and magazine articles,
1971-1977.
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Miscellaneous - Newspaper and journal articles, flyers, brochures,
Senate bill, syllabus, reports, notes, newsletters, catalog, poetry,
1959-1989.
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"At the Fork in Our Trail" - Manuscript by Stand Middlestriker,
n.d.
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| Description | Container | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Americans Before Columbus:
January-June1973, June-July 1973, September 1976, May 1977, June
1977, September 1977, May 1978, October, 1978.
|
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Big Mountain News:
Summer/Fall, 1983; Fall, 1984; Spring, 1986.
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Black Hills Paha Sapa Report:
July 1979, August 1979, April 1980, January, 1981, March-April 1981,
March-April, 1982.
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Choctaw Community News:
October, 1985.
|
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Committee on Native American Struggles
Newsletter:
Winter, 1982.
|
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Eagle Wing Press:
October, 1982.
|
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Fourth World Bulletin:
June, 1988; September, 1982.
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Ganienkeh's Struggle:
Fall, 1975.
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The Guardian:
June 1976.
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Guild Notes:
October 1978.
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Indigenous World:
Spring 1982.
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The July 4th Coalition:
1976.
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Mohawk Native News:
June 1979.
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Movement Support Network News:
April 1986.
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El Mundo Indigena,
1984.
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NASC News:
February 1976.
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The Native Hawaiian:
March 1978.
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Navajo Times:
November 1977.
|
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NEGEHM - KE:
Winter 1978-1979.
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Oglala Nation:
April 1979.
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Oyate News:
November 1980, December 1980, January 1981, February-May 1981,
June-August 1981, January-March 1982, May-August 1982, January-March 1983,
March 1985.
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Sacred Mountain Notes:
Spring 1980.
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Spirit of the People:
December 1976, April 1976, June 1976, July 1976, August 1976, March
1977, June, 1977.
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Standing Rock Star:
July 1973.
|
|
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Survival News, vol 2, no.1. |
|
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Talking Leaf:
March 1977.
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Treaty Council News:
November 1977, December 1977, April 1978, August 1978.
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Tribal Peoples Survival:
July 1979, Winter 1988.
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Wassaja:
March 1978, June 1978.
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Win:
February 1976.
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Yakima Nation Review:
Fall 1977, April, 1978.
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