American Indian Chicago Conference (1961 : University of Chicago)

The American Indian Chicago Conference wash held in 1961. Most of the 460 conference participants were indigenous and they used the congress to address their common concerns. The conference was organized by Native American people with the sponsorship of the University of Chicago, Professor of Anthropology Sol Tax, and the National Congress of American Indians. The conference occurred at a time when federal policy regarding the termination of tribal trust status seriously threatened the recognition of tribes by the federal government. The conference provided support for the development of new inter-tribal organizations that helped to write the Declaration of Indian Purpose which was present to President John F. Kennedy and has helped to inform the federal government of the Native American view point regarding policy.