Sovereignty and Survival: The Rise of AIM
In the years following federal relocation policies of the 1950s and ‘60s, many Native families found themselves in urban areas far from home, grappling with police harassment, child removal by social services, and the isolation of city life. Out of these challenges, small groups began meeting, sharing experiences, and recognizing the power of a collective voice. From these early gatherings and community-driven solutions — such as establishing multi-service Indian centers and patrolling neighborhoods to document police brutality — emerged a new generation of Pan-Indian activism, seen in the rise of groups like the American Indian Movement (AIM).
Pat Bellanger | Origins of AIM: Interview with Dr. Beth Castle 4/10/2006
In the urban environment, Native people from different tribal nations converged, recognizing shared experiences of systemic injustices. Out of conversations about these issues, a small group began patrolling their own neighborhoods after local teenagers were beaten by police. Initially calling themselves “Concerned Indians of America,” (CIA) - they quickly changed the name to the American Indian Movement (AIM). This collaboration and collective action emerged directly from the need for Pan-Indian unity and self-defense, laying a foundation for the broader AIM organizing effort.
AIM emerged in 1968 from the concerns of relocated Ojibwa women in Minneapolis and quickly grew into a national movement advocating for Native American rights and sovereignty. While figures like Russell Means and Dennis Banks became the public face of AIM, the organization's foundation lay in the grassroots efforts of women working to protect families and community. AIM's activities ranged from local initiatives to large-scale protests, such as the occupations of Mount Rushmore (1970, 1971) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs building (1972). These actions drew attention to treaty violations and the mismanagement of Indian affairs. The "Trail of Broken Treaties" in 1972, a caravan protest culminating in the BIA occupation, exemplified AIM's blend of symbolic action and grassroots mobilization. Although AIM has always faced challenges and criticisms, its bold tactics and focus on sovereignty and identity inspired a new generation and laid the groundwork for long-term social and political progress in Indian Country.
Pat Bellanger | All in it together: Interview with Dr. Beth Castle 4/10/2006
Pat recounts a pivotal moment in AIM’s early days, when members began actively exploring what being “Indian” meant to them. They recognized the drum as a shared tradition and decided to host powwows, despite limited resources. Bellanger recalls learning to make fry bread and that everyone pitched in, fostering a communal spirit that became central to AIM’s grassroots organizing efforts.
Laura Waterman Wittstock | Relocation & AIM: Interview with Dr. Beth Castle 4/11/2026
Relocation brought large numbers of Native people from reservations into urban areas, creating immediate social and economic challenges—unfamiliar job markets, lack of healthcare access, and isolation from home communities. Women, in particular, used their reservation-based problem-solving skills to support one another and, over time, formed more formal “multi-service Indian centers.” These centers became key organizing sites, laying the groundwork for new forms of Pan-Indian activism. Ironically, the negative experience of relocation also gathered enough Native people in cities to foster collective action, helping spark the emergence of organizations like AIM and other urban-based Native movements.
The rise of the American Indian Movement was rooted in survival, sovereignty, and reclaiming identity in the face of systemic oppression. From the streets of Minneapolis to national demonstrations, AIM was built by those who refused to accept silence and invisibility. Women and tight-knit families played a central role, creating the community infrastructure that made long-term organizing possible. Their work—whether hosting powwows, forming Indian centers, or patrolling neighborhoods—laid the foundation for a movement that continues to inspire Indigenous resistance and action to this day.
Learn from these histories, share the stories, and support grassroots efforts. Join our community in honoring the legacy of AIM and continuing the work of those who led the way. Follow the Matriarchs.