american indian movement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “american indian movement” mean?
A civil rights organization founded in 1968 to advocate for the rights, sovereignty, and self-determination of Native American (American Indian) peoples in the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A civil rights organization founded in 1968 to advocate for the rights, sovereignty, and self-determination of Native American (American Indian) peoples in the United States.
The movement represents a significant period of Indigenous activism focused on treaty rights, land recovery, cultural revival, and addressing systemic injustices. It is often associated with high-profile protests, such as the occupation of Alcatraz (1969) and Wounded Knee (1973).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK contexts, the term may be less familiar and require explanation. In US contexts, it is a recognized proper noun in modern history.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of Indigenous resistance, protest, and the Red Power movement of the late 20th century.
Frequency
Primarily used in US historical, political, and sociological discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “american indian movement” in a Sentence
The American Indian Movement [verb: occupied, founded, advocated]Members of the American Indian MovementThe ideology of the American Indian MovementVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “american indian movement” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- an American Indian Movement-led occupation
- American Indian Movement rhetoric
American English
- an American Indian Movement-affiliated group
- American Indian Movement ideology
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Frequently discussed in history, political science, and Native American studies courses.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing modern history.
Technical
Used in historical and sociological texts analyzing social movements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “american indian movement”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “american indian movement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “american indian movement”
- Using it as a synonym for all Native American history or culture.
- Misspelling as 'American Indian *Movment*'.
- Using lowercase ('american indian movement') when referring to the specific organization.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though its prominence and activities have evolved since its peak in the 1970s, it continues to exist and advocate on issues affecting Native communities.
AIM is the acronym for the American Indian Movement.
It was notably more confrontational and media-savvy, employing direct action and occupation tactics to demand attention, contrasting with earlier, more diplomatic efforts.
Primarily, yes. It inspired Indigenous activists in Canada and elsewhere, but its focus and operations were centered on issues within the United States.
A civil rights organization founded in 1968 to advocate for the rights, sovereignty, and self-determination of Native American (American Indian) peoples in the United States.
American indian movement is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
American indian movement: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmer.ɪ.kən ˈɪn.di.ən ˈmuːv.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmer.ɪ.kən ˈɪn.di.ən ˈmuːv.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: **AIM** for rights – the American Indian Movement aimed to secure sovereignty and justice.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MOVEMENT IS A JOURNEY TOWARD SOVEREIGNTY.
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary goal of the American Indian Movement?