LaDonna Harris Native American Collection

The collection consists of documents from LaDonna Harris' personal life as an activist and from AIO's four decades of operation as a non-profit organization involved in advocacy and development projects related to the needs and rights of Native Americans. The contents of this collection range from Ms. Harris' early years as an activist and wife of U.S. Senator Fred Harris in the 1960s, to her founding of AIO in 1970, and running AIO through the 1990s, to AIO's continued operation under the direction of her daughter, Laura Harris, in the early 2000s. The collection documents AIO's principal activities, including organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and other programs for Native American tribes and governmental agencies. Major initiatives include: partnerships for the Protection of Tribal Environments; Governance project; Family Systems project; Tribal Issues Management System; Toward an Understanding of Rural Economies; IndianNet; and the Ambassadors Program. Additionally, AIO was instrumental in the formation of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, American Indian Telecommunications Consortium, Tribal Association of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. The collection contains correspondence, proposals, seminar materials, and publications related to these and other AIO projects. The collection also features material from governments (federal, state, municipal, and tribal) and civil society organizations with which AIO worked. As such, the collection offers a record of the activist groups and governmental agencies that operated in the same milieu as AIO.

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Movies

LaDonna Harris

This file contains AIO and LaDonna Harris’ correspondence related to the promotion of the film ‘The Pow-Wow Highway’. Some newspaper clippings about the misrepresentation and romanticized depiction of Native American cultures in movies such as Dances with wolves, Thunderheart, and Pocahontas are included in this file.
National Indian Child Welfare Act Conference

National Indian Child Welfare Association

This is a copy of the National Child Welfare Act Conference registration form and agenda with the descriptions of the workshops to be hosted at the Clarion Four Seasons Hotel on November 14-16, 1990 in Albuquerque, NM.
National Indian Information Center: Concept Paper

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This is a copy of a concept paper to pilot a Non-profit Census Information Center together with American Indians, Eskimo, and Aleuts as the lead agency of a three-member consortium of Washington-based American non-profit organizations. Attached to this paper are communications and briefing papers.
Native American Arts

ATLATL-A Native American Arts and Service Organization

This file contains a copy of a publication by the ATLATL Native American Arts Network: A special report on Issues in Contemporary American Indian: Art-Report on a symposium dated 1990, News clippings, a catalog of Native American Videos: the 1998-1999 collection by the Shenandoah Film Productions, and AIO’s correspondence including attachments of the Shenandoah newsletters Sept. 1995, Apr. 1997, and Nov. 1998
Native American Arts Alliance

Native American Arts Alliance

This file contains documentation of the preparations for the “Ceremonial” Art Exhibit which featured the work of eight contemporary Native American artists presented at the Zenobio Institute in Venice, Italy during la Biennale di Venezia 1999-2000. Drafts of proposals, minutes of meetings, invitations, fundraising exhibition plans, notes, news releases and clippings as well as communications related to this event are included.
Native American Conservation and Exploitation of Their Resources and Wealth

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This file contains a copy of the Department of the Interior news release, a draft of a proposal for a grant to conduct a study to start inventorying Native American assets, the potential of those assets, and the best methods of maximizing Native American benefits from them, and a grant proposal by George Crossland.
Native American Philosophy and Perspective of Development

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) and Other Native American Organizations

This file presents an overview of development as it is characterized in five general areas: governance, education, social welfare, and spiritual/cultural. It intends to give the reader a Native American vision of development as a process that is part of the continuum of our existence, and not an isolate event. This document was written collaboratively by the American Indian Trade and Development Council, AIO, the Council for Tribal Employment rights, the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, First Nations Financial Project, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, Native American Rights Fund, and the Seventh Generation Fund.
Native American Religious Freedom Project

LaDonna Harris

This file contains correspondence between Americans for Indian Opportunity and funding organizations regarding the Native American Religious Freedom Project.
Native American Studies at UNM

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

The concept, goals, statistics, and achievements of the Native American Studies Program at UNM College of Engineering are briefly presented in this file. Some additional information and communications are attached.
Native North American Artists

Native North American Artists

This is an invitation to the Native American Artists Exhibition of paintings by Lloyd Collins’ Isadora series.
Natural Resources

Author Unknown

This file contains a ‘Proposed Policy on Indian Water Rights” by the American Civil Liberties Union dated Nov. 1, 1997, a copy of a speech on Fair market value of the Indian Resources in the nation’s economy by Peter McDonald, Chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council presented at the 1997 Southwest Minerals Conference hosted at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Nov. 3, 1997 Albuquerque, NM., a copy of “Indian Minerals” a paper that was part of the final report of American Indian Policy Review Commission Task Force # 7 Reservation and Resource Development, a copy of ‘A review of Contemporary Indian Mineral Agreements’, newspaper clippings entitled: ‘Indians want more for minerals’, an issue of the Mining at Union Carbide magazine dated Dec. 1979, a copy of a dialogue focusing on issues related to Indian control of natural resources dated May 1980, a copy of the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982, copies of the published articles on oil and gas royalty recovery policy on federal and Indian lands, a response, and a reply to Sant, Haspel, and Boldt by Davies, Wilen, and Jergovic dated April, 1983. Attachments included in this file are samples of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Newsletters dated 1983 and newspaper clippings.
New Federalism: The Role of the Indian Community

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This file contains copies of the New Federalism: The role of the Indian Community with President Reagan’s views and proposed policies and a copy of New Federalism and Trust Responsibility to Indian Tribes by AIO. The purpose of this paper is to examine how federal-Tribal relationship might be affected by the New Federalism. Included in this set are copies of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes resolutions, news clips, the President Reagan’s remarks on the National Association of Counties, remarks by Roy Sampsel Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, amendments, a bill to authorize the state and the Indian tribes to enter into mutual agreements and compacts respecting jurisdiction and governmental operations in Indian country, an appeal of the Southland Royalty Co. vs. the Navajo Tribe of Indians, and addendums of the Navajo Tribal people
New Mexicans for Tribal Development

Fred Harris

This file contains the New Mexicans for Tribal Development organization briefly reports on Native American Tribes as separate government units, modern Indian self-government, dual citizenship and dual entitlement, economic self-determination, New Mexicans for tribal development, serving the interests of non-Indians, cooperation, and the so called back-lash fading.
New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women 1981-1986

NM Commission on the Status of Women

This file contains correspondence between the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women and LaDonna Harris. Attached to this correspondence are copies of the Commission’s quarterly Newsletter and an invitation-program to the Final Banquet to honor the finalists of the First Annual Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women hosted at the Albuquerque Convention Center on June 28 1986.
New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women 1992-1994

NM Commission on the Status of Women

This file contains correspondence of New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women with U.S senators and other organizations to support the Women’s telecommunications Project. Attachments include copies of the proposal, comments by Prof. Robin Douthitt from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, remarks by Camille Haney, president of the Haney Group and copies of News releases, flyers, announcements, and communications.
New Mexico Indian Environmental Education Project

The New Mexico Indian Environmental Education Project

This file contains the New Mexico Indian Environmental Education Project description, goals, objectives, workshops, registration forms, and a reply to LaDonna Harris sent on February 27, 1979.
New Mexico Tribal Economic Profile – Project Summary: Economic Contribution of Tribes to State

LaDonna Harris

This is a copy of the New Mexico Tribal Economic Profile Summary of a pilot project in cooperation with the Ford Foundation to document the economic contribution of Native Americans to the New Mexico state economy. This summary includes the survey instrument sent to the governor.
Now is the Time – An Americans for Indian Opportunity Publication of Activities

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This file contains triptychs, fliers, and a poster of Americans for Indian Opportunities’ activities and information of their organization.
Professionalization of American Indian Women

Teresa D. LaFromboise and Kitt Boesch

This is a copy of the Skills Training for the Professionalization of American Indian Women, a manual designed as a resource guide for facilitators of leadership training workshops to enhance the professionalization of American Indian women. The ideas and contributing resources emerged from those American Indian women who participated in professionalization workshops funded by the Women’s Educational Equity Act, the Lincoln Foundation, and the Cooper Foundation. This document is dated February 1985.
Project Manager for Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel

LaDonna Harris

This is a collection of memoranda and communications about conducting a series of discussions and focus groups between the U.S. Army and the Zuni and Navajo tribes concerning the clean-up of non-stockpile chemical material in a safe, environmentally, and cost effective manner in areas neighboring former U.S. Army posts, such as Fort Wingate located in the vicinity of both tribes.
Project on the Development of Consensus-Based Tribal Governance

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This file contains communications with Funding institutions, sponsors, and tribal representatives, conference-Symposia plans, and copies/drafts of the Project proposal on Advancing Consensus-based Tribal Governance. Among the attachments included in this file are (a) a draft on Indian Tribal Government and Indian Economic Development: A statement of principles, (b) a copy of a paper entitled To be or Not To Be Indian, and copies of papers/notes on Intergovernmental Relations, (c) The Dichotomy of White/Red Governance, (d) Notes on Conflict by Wingspread Participants, (e) Notes on Conflict resolution, (f) Notes on Eastern and Western Indian Philosophy, (g) Preliminary Proposal Ideas for Indian Conflict Management Training Project, (h) Some thoughts on conflict resolution, (i) Rebuilding a Tribal System of Government: The Comanche Experience (j) The Emergence of a New Tribal Leader (k) a copy of a non-dated AIO’s publication of a report entitled To Govern and To be Governed: American Indian Tribal Governments at the Crossroads, and (l) a copy of a Proposal presented to the Administration for Native Americans and The Bureau of Indian Affairs for interagency support of a Project to assess the impact of Self-determination policies of the past decade on tribal governments and their progress toward self-sufficiency including appendixes and budgets.
Project proposal: A Tribal Family Systems Consortium

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This proposal describes in detail a plan to study five Native American tribes by employing the family systems approach in identifying and understanding the patterns of health in Native American communities and in engaging tribal governments in addressing these patterns. Included in this proposal are LaDonna Harris' biographical information, CVs of some AIO's board members, tribal resolutions, letters, and other primary sources that supported this proposed study.
Proposals to Support AIO’s Advocacy and Indian Resources Development

Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO)

This file contains copies of proposals of American for Indian Opportunity to diverse funding organizations that include The White House. To better serve Native American Tribes AIO is an active advocate for American Indian development and resource control that needs financial support and partnership. These proposals detail AIO’s background and work during the early 1970s. Attached to these documents is correspondence between AIO and funding organizations.
Quincentennial – Preparations 1986-1991

Author Unknown

This file contains Americans for Indian Opportunity’s correspondence with Indigenous organizations of the Americas concerning the organization of the Quincentennial Anniversary of Columbus arrival to the Americas. Attachments and research sources for the organization of this event included in this file are copies of published newsletters such as the Indian news of the Americas, a proposal and survey to create an Indigenous Organization of the Americas Directory, a copy of a published article on ‘The deep meaning of Native American Schooling 1800-1900 by David Wallace Adams, a copy of the program to the Seventh Assembly of the Fourth World Symposium, a copy of a conference paper entitled ‘Tribal Government’ by LeeAnna Arrowohis, and various newspaper clippings related to the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America.
Quincentennial Project: The Untold Story: 500 Years of Native American Perseverance 1987-91

LaDonna Harris

This file contains correspondence, communications, meeting minutes, program drafts, and notes about an international gathering of Native Americans and indigenous peoples of the Americas in commemoration of the quincentenary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Western Hemisphere and the contributions and perseverance of indigenous peoples of the hemisphere. This conference named the Untold Story: 500 years of Native American Perseverance was hosted in the City of Indianapolis, Indiana in collaboration with the OAS, AIO, and other sponsors in 1992.