The "Declaration of Indian Purpose" produced by the American Indian Chicago Conference in 1961 needs to be recognized and extended to meet the needs and common political concerns of American Indians today. This publication provides the complete text and the appendices to this earlier document, and includes papers in which Indian academics and tribal leaders discuss tribal government and tribal language in reference to the "Declaration of Indian Purpose." The original conference in 1961 provided a valuable forum for opposition to the policy of termination of tribal trust status, the articulation of Indian goals, and it has informed Indian affairs ever since. This document also includes the entire transcript of a 1987 public forum to identify and address certain new directions in"Indian Purpose," since 1961. Specific topics covered include tribal government; language, culture and the dissolution of tribal society; English in the Chicago Indian community; Indian education in Minnesota; sovereignty and intergovernmental relations; and an extended discussion of new directions in Indian education. (SKW)