How Termination and Relocation Policies Threatened Native Sovereignty

CrashCourse

This episode of Crash Course Native American History explores the tumultuous "Relocation and Termination Era" (1953-1968), a period when the United States government sought to end its treaty obligations to Native nations. Host Che Jim explains how post-WWII economic pressures led to policies designed to assimilate Native Americans by moving them to urban centers and legally dissolving tribal governments. The video details the devastating economic and cultural impacts of these policies, specifically using the Menominee tribe of Wisconsin as a case study. The narrative examines the specifics of the Indian Relocation Act and the Termination Act, highlighting the gap between the government's promises of "freedom" and equality versus the reality of poverty, loss of land, and discrimination. It illustrates how tribes like the Menominee, who were economically self-sufficient, were targeted and subsequently plunged into financial ruin when their federal status was revoked. The video also touches on the experiences of those who moved to cities, facing systemic barriers and isolation. Critically, the video concludes with a story of resilience and civic action. It details how the Menominee, led by figures like Ada Deer and the organization DRUMS, successfully fought to reverse these policies and achieve the restoration of their tribal status in 1973. This video is an excellent resource for teaching about tribal sovereignty, the impacts of federal policy on marginalized groups, and the power of political organizing to effect change.