Hippies, Indians, and the Fight for Red Power

by Sherry L. Smith

Through much of the 20th century, federal policy toward Indians sought to extinguish all remnants of native life and culture. That policy was dramatically confronted in the late 1960s when a loose coalition of hippies, civil rights advocates, Black Panthers, unions, Mexican-Americans, Quakers and other Christians, celebrities, and others joined with Red Power activists to fight for Indian rights.

In Hippies, Indians and the Fight for Red Power , Sherry Smith offers the first full account of this remarkable story. Hippies were among the first non-Indians of the post-World War II generation to seek contact with Native Americans. The counterculture saw Indians as genuine holdouts against conformity, inherently spiritual, ecological, tribal, communal-the original "long hairs." Searching for authenticity while trying to achieve social and political justice for minorities, progressives of various stripes and colors were soon drawn to the Indian cause. Black Panthers took part in Pacific Northwest fish-ins. Corky Gonzales' Mexican American Crusade for Justice provided supplies and support for the Wounded Knee occupation. Actor Marlon Brando and comedian Dick Gregory spoke about the problems Native Americans faced. For their part, Indians understood they could not achieve political change without help. Non-Indians had to be educated and enlisted. Smith shows how Indians found, among
this hodge-podge of dissatisfied Americans, willing recruits to their campaign for recognition of treaty rights; realization of tribal power, sovereignty, and self-determination; and protection of reservations as cultural homelands. The coalition was ephemeral but significant, leading to political reforms that strengthened Indian sovereignty.

Thoroughly researched and vividly written, this book not only illuminates this transformative historical moment but contributes greatly to our understanding of social movements.

Genres: History, Native American, Politics, Race, Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2012

Reviews

[Louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh to be a california hippie advancing the red power movement

[Craig Werner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for something more from this book, which provides a serviceable overview of some of the main moments in the history of the Native American struggle for justice during the 1960s and 1970s. If you haven't read anything in that area, this book will introduce you to the Northwest fishing rights demonstrations, the hippie invasion of Taos and the repatriation of Blue Lake, the occupations of Alcatraz and Fort Lawson, and Wounded Knee. But there are better places to get that, especially Smith and Warrior's Like a Hurricane. The title suggested that the book would dig deeply into the complications of the relationship between the mostly white counterculture and the American Indians who provided it was a certain kind of inspiration. Smith does provide some information on that front, drawing largely on the underground press. But the focus frequently moves to a more general set of comments on white involvement in the Native movements. There's as much on church organizations and mainstream political machinations as on the hippies per se. What is there on the hippies recasts familiar themes of cultural appropriation, insensitivity, drug use, occasional moments of respect and a few serious engagements and interactions. Not the place to start and not really much here to help work through the complications.