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Trail of Broken Treaties Collection, 1972-1973
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Trail of Broken Treaties Collection
- Dates
- 1972-1973 (inclusive)19721973
- Quantity
- 1.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- RG 054
- Summary
- This collection contains documentation of participation by University of Montana-Missoula students in the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan in 1972. The collection includes journals created by 16 of the students who participated in the caravan to Washington, D.C., as well as audio recordings, photographs, film footage from the event, clippings, and University of Montana administrative files.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula. Series I: Student Journals is restricted, please contact Archives and Special Collections for additional information.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Trail of Broken Treaties was an initiative to gain attention for issues facing native peoples in both the United States and Canada. The Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan began on the West Coast of the United States in October of 1972 and wound its way east, stopping at reservations and picking up additional participants as it worked its way toward Washington D.C. The caravan of protestors stopped in St. Paul, Minnesota where they held educational workshops and drafted a 20 point position paper that they intended to present to the current presidential candidates, Richard Nixon and George McGovern. The caravan participants began arriving in Washington D.C. in late October and early November of 1972 with a final count of about 1000 individuals representing numerous tribes from across the United States and Canada.
Caravan members found inadequate housing upon arrival in Washington D.C. and gathered at the offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to discuss options with the commissioner, Louis Bruce. Communication broke down during the conversations and an altercation between protestors and building guards resulted in the takeover of the BIA building by Trail of Broken Treaties participants on November 2, 1972. The protestors held the building for nearly a week, eventually negotiating with the federal government for travel funds to return to their homes, protection from prosecution for the BIA takeover, and a promise by authorities to consider the points made in the position paper.
Seventeen University of Montana Native American students participated in the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan. Participation was considered an "omnibus" course in Indian Studies (now Native American Studies), similar to a field work course; if the students completed assignments, including keeping and submitting a journal, they would receive fifteen credits for the quarter. The students left Missoula, Montana on October 13, 1972 in three cars. They attended a week of workshops in Minnesota and arrived in Washington, D.C. on November 1st and left the city on November 9th.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains documents providing background about the Trail of Broken Treaties and the participation of University of Montana students in the caravan to Washington, D.C. Included are sixteen journals kept by students; documents maintained by Henrietta Whiteman, Director of Indian Studies (now Native American Studies) at the University of Montana; copies of clippings; 8mm film taken of the caravan and events; color slides from the trip; and audio recordings of speeches and press conferences on cassette tapes.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
Trail of Broken Treaties Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Student Journals, 0.5 linear feet, 1972
Series II: Administrative Files, 0.1 linear feet, 1972-1973
Series III: Audiovisual Materials, 0.9 linear feet, 1972
Acquisition Information
The collection was received by Archives and Special Collections from an unknown donor in April 1975.
Processing Note
The actions of the original processor are unknown. The manuscript portion of the collection was originally assigned the collection number UM 9, the moving image material was assigned the identifier UM Film Collection 4, and the audio recordings were given the oral history number OH 339. The manuscript materials were reassigned collection number RG 054 in the early 2000s; the film and audio portions were added to the manuscript collection in 2016 and all the materials were redescribed at that time. Student journals were fully restricted in 2016 to protect the privacy of students.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Student Journals, 1972-1973Return to Top
This series contains journals created by University of Montana students participating in the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan. Daily journal entries were one of the assignments to receive credit for their omnibus course in Indian Studies (now called Native American Studies). Materials are arranged alphabetically by author's last name.
This series is RESTRICTED, please contact Archives and Special Collections for additional information.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Caye, Monica Restricted
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| 1/2 | Ground, Richard Restricted
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| 1/3 | Kipp, Woodrow Restricted
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| 1/4 | Lynde, Kim Restricted
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| 1/5 | Plumage, Charles (Jack) Restricted
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| 1/6 | Reed, Chris Restricted
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| 1/7 | Roberts, Ivan Restricted
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| 1/8 | Ross, Kathleen Restricted
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| 1/9 | Saddler, Joe Restricted
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| 1/10 | Smith, Leonard Restricted
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| 1/11 | Stiffarm, Wes Restricted
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| 1/12 | Swan, Ron Restricted
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| 1/13 | Tailfeathers, Robert Restricted
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| 1/14 | Wagner, Frank Restricted
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| 1/15 | White, Betty Restricted
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| 1/16 | Williams, Ronald Restricted
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Series II: Administrative Files, 1972-1973Return to Top
This series contains materials collected by Dr. Henrietta Whiteman at the University of Montana. Materials include correspondence concerning the University of Montana omnibus course and student involvement in the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan, as well as clippings of the events, and financial records from the students' trip.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Financial Records |
1972 |
| 2/2 | Office Files |
1972/1973 |
| 2/3 | Clippings |
1972 |
Series III: Audiovisual Materials, 1972Return to Top
This series contains 142 35mm slides, one reel of 8mm film (with a VHS duplicate), and 11 audiocassettes (with duplicate use copies). The 8mm film was described in the original collection inventory as eight individual films, however, it appears these films were spliced together and placed on one reel. This film is in color with no sound. The slides depict the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan as it travelled across the United States as well as their occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Washington D.C., some slides are identified. The audiocassettes are recordings of press conferences and speeches given by leaders from the Native American groups as well as government officials, all cassettes include a master copy and a use copy.
In 2021, the motion picture film reel was cleaned, placed on a new reel, and rehoused for preservation purposes.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/4 | 35mm slides |
1972 |
| Box | ||
| 3 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
October 29, 1972-October 31, 1972 |
| 3 | South Dakota |
October 30, 1972-November 1, 1972 |
| 3 | Bellecourt and Russell Means, location unknown |
November 1, 1972 |
| 3 | Washington, D. C. |
November 1, 1972-November 3, 1972 |
| 3 | Occupation of BIA headquarters, Bellecourt, Mills, Adams and Means, Washington, D. C. |
November 3, 1972-November 5, 1972 |
| 3 | Occupation of BIA headquarters, Washington, D. C. |
November 5, 1972-November 6, 1972 |
| 3 | Occupation of BIA headquarters, Washington, D. C. |
November 5, 1972-November 6, 1972 |
| 3 | Pow Wow, location unknown |
1972 |
VHS duplicate of reels 1 through 9 |
1972 | |
| box-cassette | ||
| 4/1 | Side 1: Singers, Rapid City, South Dakota. Side 2: Floyd Waterman, Pine Ridge, South Dakota. |
October 4, 1972 |
| 4/2 | Side 1: Minneapolis Public Schools, Administration Building, Speakers include Vernon Bellecourt, Dennis Banks, Russell Means, and
Harry Adams. Side 2: Press Conference, St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota and Minnesota State Prison. |
October 24, 1972-October 25, 1972 |
| 4/3 | Side 1: Press Conference, St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota and Minnesota State Prison. |
October 24, 1972 |
| 4/4 | Side 1: Minnesota State Prison - Talk with American Indian inmates and singing.
Side 2: Minnesota State Prison - American Indian inmates, Stillwater Prison. |
October 25, 1972 |
| 4/5 | Side 1: WDGY Newscast in St. Paul, Minnesota and Press Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Side Two: Assembly at Bureau of Indian
Affairs Building in Washington D.C. |
October 30, 1972-November 2, 1972 |
| 4/6 | Side 1: Bureau of Indian Affairs Takeover, Washington D.C., Statements by Loesch, Roberson, Crow, and Caravan Members.
Side 2: First meeting of caravan people and leaders with Harrison Loesch, Robert Robertson, John Crow, and Dan McDonald in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Building, Washington D.C. |
November 2, 1972 |
| 4/7 | Side 1: General Assembly, Statements by Commissioner Louis Bruce and caravan leaders.
Side 2: Continued from Side 1. |
November 3, 1972 |
| 4/8 | Side 1: Meeting in Bureau of Indian Affairs Building, Washington D.C. - Report from Steering Committee. Side 2: United States Court
of Appeals, Washington, D.C. - Concerning ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. |
November 4, 1972 |
| 4/9 | Side 1: United States Court of Appeals - Part II, Washington D.C. Side 2: Press Conference Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington D.C. |
November 4, 1972-November 5, 1972 |
| 4/10 | Side I: Indian Club reception for Henri and caravan students presentation. |
November 1972 |
| 4/11 | Side I: Bureau of Indian Affairs Caravan, Former Chair of Cheyenne and other unidentified speakers. |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Civil rights demonstrations--United States
- Indian activists--United States
- Indians of North America--Civil rights
- Indians of North America--Claims
- Indians of North America--Government relations--1934-
- Indians of North America--Legal status, laws, etc.
- Indians of North America--Study and teaching (Higher)--Montana--Missoula.
- Trail of Broken Treaties, 1972
Personal Names
- Whiteman, Henrietta, 1934-
Corporate Names
- American Indian Movement--History
- University of Montana (Missoula, Mont. : 1965-1994)--Archives
Finding aid prepared by Archives staff
1970s
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
