Native American Civil Rights Movement Paper In a sense, the movement for Native American Rights was different

from the African American Civil Rights Movement due to the fact that Natives were long considered a sovereign nation. For Native Americans to be assimilated into a society completely different that their normal tribal structure would be difficult, as well as achieving the same rights in the new society. The ways the Native Americans would fight for their rights, however, would not be as different: there would be violence, protests, and legal cases in the fight for rights for Native Americans. As the Native Americans continued fighting for their rights, they became closer and closer to their goal and today they enjoy the same rights as everyone else. Many Indian activist groups formed, but they achieved their goals through two main methods: legal suits and protests. Conservative, elder Native Americans (mostly tribal leaders) preferred to take things slow and lobby in Congress and fight in court. The younger generation frowned at this and decided to protest and petition. These two tactics worked together to achieve Native Americans rights. Protests over fishing and land rights prompted the federal government to start, slowly but surely, towards Native American rights. Indians also fought for self-determination: the right to choose their own sovereignty and political statuses. They also fought for equal rights, just like African Americans, and against police brutality, discrimination, poor housing and education, and more. Throughout the movement, unity was key. Even among different tribes, unity helped give strength to the movement. This unity help pull feats, such as the Trail of Broken Treaties and the Long Walk, off. The persistence and determination of the Native Americans was also key into gaining their rights for the government was quite hesitant about giving rights to minorities at the time. Even though there were acts of violence within the movement, such as the 1973 Wounded Knee incident, peaceful talks and negotiations were the most fruitful methods in obtaining rights. Even though, towards the end of the twentieth century, Native Americans began receiving many of their rights and property, they continued to protest until every lost drop of freedom and liberty was given to them. Even with full rights, Native Americans still had a long way to go. Relocating was not just a physical matter, but a psychological one as well. Some Native Americans tried to assimilate by taking modern jobs, living in cities, intermarrying with whites, and losing their tribal identities. Others could not handle their new culture, their new society and either just got by in city life or moved back home, to the reservations. Still others traveled in between their two worlds. Other Native Americans got lump sums in settlements, but did not have the skills to maintain a steady income, and therefore had to work unskilled jobs while many had to rely on social services and slipped into poverty and/or drug and substance problems, such as alcoholism. But, through the racism, discriminations, oppression, violence, and hatred, Native Americans were able to rise through the bottom of the social hierarchy and get their freedom.