United American Indians of New England facts for kids
The United American Indians of New England (UAINE) is a group of Native American activists. It was started by Frank James (1924-2001), also known as Wamsutta. He was a leader of the Wampanoag tribe.
Frank James founded UAINE in 1970. This happened after he was told he could not give a speech at a special event. The event was held by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They wanted to celebrate the friendly past between their ancestors and the Wampanoag people.
Why UAINE Was Started
Frank James had prepared a speech for the celebration. However, the people organizing the event read his speech. They felt it was not right for the celebration. His speech talked about the difficult ways the Wampanoag people were treated by the Pilgrims at Plymouth. The organizers wanted a speech that only showed friendship.
They gave Frank James a new speech to read. This speech was written by someone from public relations. Frank James decided not to attend the celebration at all. Instead, he chose to protest. He wanted to show that Native American voices were being silenced.
He gathered many supporters. They went to Cole's Hill, which looks over Plymouth Harbor. There, Frank James gave his original speech. The people who supported him that day became the United American Indians of New England.
The National Day of Mourning
The group still leads the National Day of Mourning every year. This event continues what Frank James started. It is a day to remember the struggles and losses of Native American people. It also reminds everyone of the ongoing fight for justice.
What UAINE Does Today
Today, UAINE is an organization led by Native people and their supporters. Their main goals are to fight against unfair treatment of Native people. They also challenge old stories about the Pilgrims that are not fully true. UAINE works to support Indigenous groups in New England and across America.
They also protest the use of racist names and symbols for sports teams. These names can be hurtful to Native American communities. To share their message, UAINE members speak at schools and universities. They welcome help from all Indigenous people. They also welcome support from people who are not Native American.
UAINE strongly believes in helping all people who face challenges. This includes people with disabilities and different racial backgrounds. UAINE does not get money from the government. They rely on donations from others. Any money they get from speaking goes directly to the organization. No one on the UAINE staff is paid for their work.
