1969: “We feel the American Indian has a contribution he can make to American society, with his philosophy, his value system, his appreciation and reverence for nature. " - Joe Belindo, NCAI.

Indian image improvement campaign
1969 March 15. Arizona Republic
      National Congress for American Indians launches a campaign to improve the image of the American Indian to the American public. Joe Belindo, executive director, said the group plans to use billboards and public service announcements “in an effort to present a new and true picture.”
      “We feel the American Indian has a contribution he can make to American society, with his philosophy, his value system, his appreciation and reverence for nature. The Indian doesn’t want to become too mixed with the mainstream of society, but he has identifiable traits to be presented to the people,” Belindo said.
      He said his group objected to “harmful publicity” about the Indian, such as a television commercial for a television manufacturer showing a white woman being chased by Indians.
      “The pitch is that this television set gives you the right skin color. The television industry should be more sophisticated than that.”
1969 March 15
Arizona Republic
1969 March 15. Springfield Leader and Press 

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