United Native Americans Reclaims Mount Rushmore-1970

Part One.
In 1969, at a time when there were only ten Native American PHDs, Academic Revolutionary Lehman Brightman Founded & Coordinated The First Native Americans Studies Program in The United States at UC Berkeley. Two Months Into Assuming the teaching position at UCB, Brightman & a Group of Students attended the Annual Meeting of The National Congress of American Indians.

October 9th 1969 NCAI Held their Annual Meeting in Albuquerque New Mexico. At that Time, says Brightman, "it was the largest, most politically powerful Indian Group in The United States---Every Indian Of Importance was there."

Scheduled speakers included Vice President Spiro Theodore Agnew & Walter J. Hickel, the Nixon-appointed Secretary of the Interior and Edward Kennedy. At the time Hickel, whose Office Oversaw the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was leading a Movement to END ALL FEDERAL TREATIES with Indian Nations. ''We can't just let nature run wild,'' said Walter J. Hickel. Professor Brightman, who had Testified before Congress Against Hickel's appointment Organized a Picket Line that Booed Hickel Off The Stand. Later, Members of United Native Americans,Inc Duped The BIA into Signing a Petition Calling For Hickel's Resignation. United Native Americans,Inc Was The First Militant Indian Organization To Rise To National Prominence.

Walter J. Hickel served as governor of Alaska from 1966-1968 and from 1990 -- 1994 and as U.S. secretary of the interior from 1969 -- 1970.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pipeline/peopleevents/p_hickel.html
Spiro Theodore Agnew- is the only Vice President in U.S. history to resign because of criminal charges.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpiroAgnew

Part Two.
Indians Invade Mount Rushmore

On August 29th, 1970, a small group of dedicated young Indians Invaded Mount Rushmore, the so called "National Shrine of Democracy," located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Indian people who took part in this out standing feat, did so at the Invitation of the Local Indian people from Rapid City, South Dakota and the Surrounding Reservations. Most of these young Indians were from Different Tribes and Reservations who Volunteered to Help the Sioux in their efforts to force the Federal Government to pay for the illegal taking of their land 94 years ago in 1877. The Invasion started at 8:00PM. Sat. Evening, the 29th of August 1970, when 23 young Indians, most of whom were college students, braved arrest and fines to help the Sioux regain their Sacred Black Hills. By 7:00AM the next Morning after an all night game of hide and seek or (rangers and Indians) most of the protesters had reached the Top of the Mountain near the four faces of the Presidents, where they hung out a large flag, with the Words, "SIOUX INDIAN POWER." And After a Brief ceremony, they renamed the Mountain "Crazy Horse Mountain" in Honor of the Famous war chief "Crazy Horse."
The Principal Leaders of the Invasion were: Lehman Brightman, National President of (U.N.A.) Dennis Banks, Executive Director of (A.I.M), Russell Means, the Leader of the Cleveland (A.I.M.) group and Carrol Swan, who helped coordinate the whole affair. Once all 23 members had reached the top and assembled, they proceeded to Establish a camp and an occupation that would last for approximately three months, or until Severe winter weather forced the withdrawal.
The incredible story behind this invasion and Occupation started five days earlier, when the local Sioux Indian people from Rapid City, South Dakota and the surrounding reservations established picket lines at the base of the monument. But after four days and nights of demonstrations the park authorities were not only not listening, but seemed to think the whole thing was a big joke. That is until the local People invited out of state Indians and National Indian Organizations to Aid them in their heroic endeavor. After taking the mountain and occupating it for a period of ten days or more, most of the college students and others were forced to return to school or their jobs, but by then the movement had caught on and Indian People from Across South Dakota were visiting the Mountain bring Food and Water and Replacing the original invaders by two fold. This was the First Indian uprising in South Dakota since the Sioux Wiped Out Custer in 1876, and suddenly young and old alike were taking new faith, Indians were Fighting Back. During the Second day of the Occupation the park authorities sent a message they wanted to talk with the leaders of the group to determine what they wanted and how long they intended to stay, Lehman Brightman replied, "as long as the grass grows, the water flows and the sunshine's," which didn't seem to please them much.
For More Infomation On The Take Over of Mount Rushmore Check Out This Link:
http://www.myspace.com/thewashichustolethepahasa
United Native Americans Inc. Fighting for Natives Since 1968. Join us at
http://www.myspace.com/unitednativeamericansinc

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[3killuminati]

heck the whole of the so called america should be given back to the natives

[krazy4luvingu]

I'm proud to be Oglala Lakota and it makes me mad that these 4 white men are on our sacred Paha Sapa (Black Hills). Especially Lincoln! He's responsible for the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Minnesota, the largest mass execution in American history, AND for putting the rest of the Dakota people in concentration camps at Fort Snelling. We refuse to be oppressed!!

[koalman]

I remember this. I was in the 5th or 6th grade when this happened. It really helped me find my direction. It was an active time. The Black Hills do belong to the Lakota and should be returned to them.

[beastshawnee]

Hey I'm Quapaw, Shawnee, and a dab Cherokee. I grew up cheering on all these "Militant" Indians, and still do. Not that they were all that violent huh?

[KittyAndBreeBree]

C'mon let us Indian have our land back. We were here first!

[juncewon]

Q KEEP IT REAL

[juliusum]

Lehman Brightman was my Sociology and American history teacher! He's easily one of my favorite teachers i ever had.......I remember when he would take a break from lecturing and talk about his life, and he would often talk about this incident, and it's crazy to see footage of this!

[ayeRIGHTyaBE]

I’ve been to AZ, CA, MT, WY, ND & SD, I've seen enormous areas of land, further than the eye can see even from an aeroplane lying empty. In the area of the Black Hills, this area is Indian land by US treaty, because Gold was found after the treaty was agreed, the US government broke the treaty, the Supreme Court agreed the land was taken illegally from Indians, however, the Court didn't award the land back, only offered money to the Indians, the land is still in dispute and money untouched.

[tanilobaja]

CALIFORNIA,ARIZONA,NUEVO MEXICO,TEXAS,BELONGS TO MEXICO VIVA MEXICO.

[chingonote]

We are many tribes,if we united ,We could kick out the Colonial Babies back to Europe.

[nativeusa76]

LULULULULULULULULULULULU way to go Lehman!!!!

[jennifer1003]

Give it back!!!!!!!! It belongs to them!! Does the gov't have to take over everyhting that really doesn't belong to them??! And they are STILL doing it..... 40 yr later! God bless the American Indians-Peace, I hope one day you will get it....finally!