Chronology of American Indian History

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June 6

The Pit River Indians occupy Lassen
National Forest.
The Pit River Indians take over the Pacific Gas
and Electric Company campgrounds in Lassen
National Forest, in northern California. The tribe
claims that the forest was illegally seized from
them in 1853. Joining them in the protest are
members of the American Indian Movement (see
entry for JULY 1968), including Richard Oakes
and Grace Thorpe (the daughter of sports star Jim
Thorpe). On the second day of the occupation,
U.S. marshals in full riot gear oust the protesters
and place more than one hundred of them under
arrest for trespassing. (See also entry for OCTOBER
1970.)

“We believe that money cannot

buy the Mother Earth. She has

sheltered and clothed, nour-

ished and protected us. We

have endured. We are Indians.

We are the rightful and legal

owners of the land. Therefore,

we reclaim all the resourceful

land that has traditionally been

ours, with the exception of that

‘owned’ by private individuals.

On this land we will set up

our own economic and social

structure, retaining all the val-

ues that are commensurate

with Indian life.”

—from a proclamation issued by

the Pit River Indians during the

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

occupation

July 8

President Richard M. Nixon declares his

support of Self-determination.

In a special message to Congress, President Richard

M. Nixon announces his intention to support a fed-

eral Indian policy of Self-determination, which would

give Indian groups more control over their political

and economic affairs. He states that the government

should “break decisively with the past and create the

conditions of a new era in which the Indian future is

determined by Indian acts and Indian decisions.”

Autumn

Activists stage a protest at Mount

Rushmore.

In a symbolic protest, Indian activists calling them-

selves the Black Hills National Monument Movement

seize portions of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

The famous monument has long been resented by

Indians, because it was carved from a mountain in

the Black Hills, an area sacred to the Lakota Sioux

and other peoples of the Plains. The protest will con-

tinue through the following spring.

October

Lakota Sioux establish a protest camp at

the Badlands National Monument.

Lakota Sioux protesters at South Dakota’s Badlands

National Monument demand the return of Sheep

Mountain, an area that is sacred to the Indians. The

U.S. government took Sheep Mountain from the

Lakota without compensation during World War

II for use as a gunnery range (see entry for 1943).

(Badlands National Monument became a national

park in 1978.)

October

The Pit River Indians meet federal troops at

Four Corners.

During the trial of the Pit River activists arrested

in Lassen National Forest (see entry for JUNE 6,