On June 2nd, 1924 —The Indian Citizenship Act was enacted in the United States.   Now, more than 100 years later, Sasheen Goslin, a researcher at the U of M Medical School and graduate from UMD with a master’s in tribal administration and governance, shares the words of the historic legislation.

“To be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled that all non-citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be and are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States, provided that the granting of such citizenship shall not be in any manner in pair or otherwise affected the right of any Indian to travel or other property.”

While most Native Americans belonged to their respective Native Nations, they were not seen as having the same rights that U.S. citizens had. This act has had a ripple of effect continuing to this day–

“I’m happy that we are welcome on this land as U.S. citizens, but it still hurts to know that we weren’t U.S. citizens on our own land. So, it’s hard to be proud of what has happened to us. I’m happy we’re here now and we’re thriving, but it took a lot to get here.”

Sophie Jene Wang, a fellow medical student at the U of M Medical School, Duluth Campus, added her experience in the attempts to understand an indigenous person’s view.

“The biggest thing for me about understanding natives is that for most of us, this isn’t ancient history. This just happened to us. I mean, the American Indian Freedom of Religion Act was 1978. My mom was 20 when that happened.”

During the time before the citizenship act, Native Americans had had a few ways to become a U.S. citizen back then if desired. Tony Gilane, from Bad River HeadStart, enlightened us on one route taken.

“And one way to become a citizen of the United States was to join, the U.S. military or branch service. And that would make them a different duality, for the citizen of their tribal nation and the United States”

This matches with the fact that Native Americans have the highest per capita in volunteering to become a member of the military service. David John Curran of the Red Cliffe Post 82 39 Commander shared his experience.

“I feel that being a citizen and a native American, how, how they both serve together today for me is there is no separation. But back in the day, I was told even by my grandparents, they weren’t, they weren’t citizens and they felt it was a slight towards them and they felt left out.”

Tony Gilane continued –

“A lot of people ask, ‘Why would Native Americans fight for a country that they were not a citizen of or didn’t belong to. And it had to do with the Ogitchidaa Warrior Society So, it’s our way at that time of being a warrior, and it still is today.”

“I know a lot of members of Lake Superior Chippewa tribes have volunteered for the service.
So, Veterans Day and all the other holidays that honor our military have a special meaning in Indian Country, so to speak, because of that duality that we honor all veterans in Native American culture.”