Vine Deloria Jr. and the Birth of the Red Power Movement: New Visions in Native America

Vine Deloria Jr. was a prominent Native American author, theologian, and activist who played a pivotal role in the Red Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Born in 1933 on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, Deloria Jr. was a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe. He graduated from Augustana College in 1954 and received a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1957.

Deloria Jr.'s early activist work focused on religious issues. He was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1957 and served as pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church in Martin, South Dakota, from 1958 to 1960. During this time, he became increasingly critical of the way that Christian missionaries had treated Native Americans. He argued that the Christian message had been used to justify the conquest and colonization of Native America, and he called for a new understanding of Christianity that would be more respectful of Native cultures and traditions.

Life of the Indigenous Mind: Vine Deloria Jr. and the Birth of the Red Power Movement (New Visions in Native American and Indigenous Studies)

by Jayne Wark

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1170 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	473 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The Red Power Movement

In the mid-1960s, Deloria Jr. became involved in the Red Power movement, a pan-Indian movement that sought to assert Native American rights and promote self-determination. He was a founder of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI),and he served as its executive director from 1964 to 1968. Under Deloria Jr.'s leadership, NCAI became a powerful advocate for Native American rights. It successfully lobbied for the passage of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, which guaranteed Native Americans the same civil rights as other Americans.

Deloria Jr. was also a prolific writer and speaker. He published more than 20 books, including Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (1969),We Talk, You Listen: New Tribes, New Turf (1970),and God Is Red: A Native View of Religion (1973). His writings were often controversial, but they helped to raise awareness of Native American issues and to challenge stereotypes about Native Americans.

New Visions for Native America

Deloria Jr.'s writings and activism helped to shape a new vision for Native America. He argued that Native Americans should not be seen as victims of history but rather as proud and resilient peoples who had the right to self-determination. He called for a new relationship between Native Americans and the United States government, a relationship based on respect and cooperation.

Deloria Jr.'s vision for Native America was not without its critics. Some Native American leaders argued that he was too willing to compromise with the United States government. Others accused him of being too radical. However, there is no doubt that Deloria Jr. was a major force in the Red Power movement and that his writings and activism helped to shape the course of Native American history.

Legacy

Vine Deloria Jr. died in 2005 at the age of 72. He left behind a legacy of activism, scholarship, and spiritual leadership. He was a pioneer in the Red Power movement, and he helped to raise awareness of Native American issues and to challenge stereotypes about Native Americans. His writings and activism helped to shape a new vision for Native America, a vision based on self-determination and respect.

Deloria Jr.'s legacy continues to inspire Native American activists and scholars today. He is remembered as a powerful voice for Native American rights, and his writings continue to be widely read and studied.

Vine Deloria Jr. was a towering figure in the Red Power movement and a major force in Native American history. His writings and activism helped to raise awareness of Native American issues and to challenge stereotypes about Native Americans. He also helped to shape a new vision for Native America, a vision based on self-determination and respect. Deloria Jr.'s legacy continues to inspire Native American activists and scholars today.

Life of the Indigenous Mind: Vine Deloria Jr. and the Birth of the Red Power Movement (New Visions in Native American and Indigenous Studies)

by Jayne Wark

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1170 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	473 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE