Red Power and Resurgence: The 1960s and the Persistence of Indigenous Sovereignties

The 1960s was a decade of upheaval, bringing with it robust anti-colonial discussions throughout the world. From the defiant grassroots activism of the American Indian Movement (AIM) to the rejection of the Trudeau government’s 1969 White Paper in Canada, Indigenous peoples persisted in asserting their rights to territory. At the same time, the Sixties Scoop challenged Indigenous family and community cohesion and educational gaps persisted, as did industrial and extractive threats to land. We will examine these historical tensions and their enduring legacies, asking how the spirit of Indigenous resurgence continues to define the protection of Indigenous homelands and the ongoing work of reconciliation.