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Photograph of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson Vintage Audio: Native Americans
Updated - Sunday, 10 November, 2002

Reproduced below is a portion of a speech given by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to a group of Native Americans in the Spring of 1913.

Apparently patronising in tone if not in intent, Wilson advocated a series of progressive reforms which included increased federal support for the somewhat marginalised Native American population.

During a speech to a group of Native Americans - a small fragment of which is reproduced below - Wilson acknowledged what he called "dark figures in the history of the white man's dealings with the Indians" but went on to assure his audience that the policies of the U.S. government were "benevolent" in intent.

Click here to listen to a recording of part of Wilson's speech from 1913 (WAV format 39kb)

President Woodrow Wilson
Addressing Native Americans

The Great White Father now calls you his brother, not his children because you have shown in your education and in your settled ways of life staunch, manly, worthy qualities of sound character.

"ANZAC" was coined in 1915 from the initials of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.