American Indians once lived prosperous and fulfilling lives, relying on the bounty of the land and nature. Colonization by white settlers disrupted this peaceful existence, uprooting tribes from their lands and forcing them to assimilate into new cultural and religious views. Years of mistreatment and abuse led to the organization of the American Indian Movement to fight for their rights and freedom. Through AIM, Indians attempted to gain recognition and introduce their culture and heritage to American citizens in order to gain a place in society. AIM leaders created a change manifesto in 1972 that listed the goals they wanted to achieve under three broad categories: economic, social and political. Although AIM was organized in response to the lack of basic rights and the oppressive nature of the U.S. government, its long-term goals have not yet been achieved. The Wounded Knee Massacre politically altered the relationship between American Indians and the U.S. government. long-term repercussions. The massacre took place approximately one hundred years before the creation of the AIM. On December 29, 1890, the last battle of the Native American War, a massacre took place on the Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation near South Dakota. The American 7th Calvary broke into the reservation to disarm the Lakota of their rifles. It is believed that a deaf tribal man refused to give his rifle to American authorities, in response Calvary shot the man point-blank, leading to chaos as the few Lakota warriors fired as a defense mechanism before being quickly outnumbered. (Nelson) The definition of a massacre is the killing of many human beings who did not resist under aristocratic circumstances. The Wounded Knee incident is... middle of paper ... The Ribaux Indians had to deal with it, but once time passed, everything was forgotten and now the American Indians continue to be oppressed, but they do not speak or become active. their struggles as they once did. The Native American movement had both positive and negative effects on the community and freedom of Indian tribes and people. Protests and disputes became a means of unifying between tribes while giving hope and strength to oppressed Indians. Their will to fight became a new hope and without this hope the movement would not have succeeded. The AIM's perseverance led to national awareness of the issue which therefore led to government assistance, thus creating a less oppressed and cruel nature for the American Indians. Although the Native American movement was not perfect, it provided hope and helped minimize the daily injustices that American Indians faced..