Katherine Parkin, Ph.D., Jules Plangere Endowed Chair in American Social History and professor in the department of History and Anthropology, recently published research in Modern American History (Vol. 9, 2026) for its U.S. Semiquincentennial special issue.
In “‘Here Come the Beads and Trinkets’: Native Americans and the 1976 Bicentennial,” Parkin explores how Native Americans responded to the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial and used the occasion to advocate for their rights and dignity. The research also highlights the important role of Native women who worked within government and other institutions to advance the needs and voices of Native communities.
The research further examines how Native activists challenged stereotypes and historical narratives that portrayed Native Americans primarily as warriors or antagonists. By using the Bicentennial as a platform for advocacy and public education, Parkin explains, activists sought to shift the conversation toward the contemporary fight for justice and self-determination.
Parkin concludes that the Bicentennial provided Native Americans with an opportunity to bring renewed attention to longstanding grievances while advancing a broader vision of Native dignity, sovereignty, and self-governance. Rather than simply participating in a national celebration, Native activists used the occasion to challenge the country to acknowledge its history and honor its commitments to Native peoples.
Parkin said the idea for this paper originated when she was awarded the Phillips Fund for Native American Research grant in 2023-24. She then conducted interviews and completed research for the article at the American Philosophical Society, the National Archives, and the Special Collections at the Tamiment Library at New York University.