American Indian Defense Association

[1] In the 1920s Antonio Luhan, a member of the Taos Pueblo, showed John Collier the poor living conditions in American Indian communities.

[2] Almost immediately Collier tried to change the government's direction by revitalizing American Indian life and culture.

[6]To put these reform ideas into law, the United States Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which reversed the Dawes Act policy,[1] and as described in section 3 of that act it was to "restore to tribal ownership the remaining surplus lands of any Indian reservation heretofore opened, or authorized to be opened, to sale, or any other form of disposal by Presidential proclamation, or by any of the public land laws of the United States".

[7] The Act provided funds to start tribal business ventures and to pay for the college education of young American Indians.

A program to provide federal loan money for college and/or vocational school expenses was begun.