On October 18, 1911, in Columbus, Ohio, an estimated fifty Native Americans met at a time, and place designated by the National Congress of the American Indians, as the first annual convention of the Society of American Indians.
Organization
The founding convention's main business was to elect officers, adopt a constitution, and outline the organization's goals. The original officers were Charles E. Dagenett (Oneida) as president; Dr. Sherman Coolidge (Arapaho) as secretary; and Dr. Carlos Montezuma (Yavapai) as field secretary. Dr. Montezuma also founded the Wassaja, the official publication of the society, which featured articles and stories by and about American Indians.
Goals and Activities
From the beginning, the society had several distinct goals. It aimed to promote fellowship and understanding among Native peoples and to act as an American Indian lobby or advocacy organization before the federal government, the American public, and the wider world. The society also worked to preserve American Indian culture and customs and to help Native peoples attain the best possible standard of living.
Membership and Influence
During the early years, membership in the society grew dramatically, and by the early 1920s, it boasted almost 1200 members from every state and every Native American tribe. Through its influence and public relations efforts, the Society of American Indians achieved significant success during its first two decades in securing better employment and educational opportunities for American Indians, as well as in combating negative stereotypes.