Thread by @benwikler

Termination. The name of the mid-20th century policy of "dissolving treaties, dismantling tribal governments, and eliminating reservations"—& shattering families. A decades-long horror that most non-Native Americans know nothing about.

Learn about it now. mprnews.org/story/2019/11/…

You should listen to—or read—this whole piece by @maxnesterak. The material it covers should be taught to everyone in schools.

mprnews.org/story/2019/11/…

@maxnesterak Ada Deer was in high school when termination passed Congress. Her tribe, the Menominee, was soon terminated. She went on to lead the fight for its restoration—and later, lead the BIA. Her book just came out, & she's speaking this Tuesday in Madison. Come!
madison.com/calendar/books…

@maxnesterak I count myself incredibly lucky: Ada Deer is my godmother. I learned about termination growing up. And I also learned about how she and other Native leaders organized, fought back, and ended it. You can order Ada's deeply inspiring book now:
amazon.com/Making-Differe…

@maxnesterak Termination—and its shattering legacy—is a profoundly shameful chapter in our history. But don't allow yourself merely to learn about it and feel bad. Learn how people worked to end it, and won. Draw inspiration from them. And then carry forward THEIR legacy. The work continues.

For a full account of both termination and restoration, read this history by Roberta Ulrich.

Termination’s goal was “the goal of European immigrants to the New World from the time the first of them settled on the Atlantic Coast: get rid of the Indians.”

amazon.com/dp/0803233647/…