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"Alcatraz Is Not An Island"

Rise of Indian activism in the 1960s and the Occupation of Alcatraz from 1969 to 1971

Indian activism and the road to Alcatraz

The rise of Indian activism in the 60s:

  • March 9, 1964: first occupation of the island, 5 Sioux, 4 hours.

  • Late October 1969: burning of the San Francisco Indian Center.

  • November 9, 1969: second occupation of the island, 50 people, Indians of All Tribes.

Underlying events and causes

  • Penitentiary closed in 1963.
  • 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.

  • Brought together the Council and the American Indian Student organization.

  • Led by Richard Oakes.
  • Claimed the island for IAM.
  • Saw that a prolonged stay was possible.

The Occupation of Alcatraz:

How and why?

  • Urban unrest: unpopularity of the Vietnam war, rise of the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power Movement, Hispanic Movement, 2nd wave of Feminism, the New Left, etc: campuses as central stages.
  • Indian students mobilized to denounce centuries of mistreatment with accent on relocation program: from reservations to urban centers, fake promises.
  • Creation of organizations: new urban Indians organizing in cities to help each other.
  • Group meetings becoming places were they could talk about discrimination.
  • Young educated students: join other minority groups to demand courses relevant to them.

Self-determination without termination

President Nixon, Special Message to the Congress on Indian Affairs on July 8, 1970.

The occupation continues:

Occupation & Proclamation

The government strikes back!

  • Fire breaks out: destruction of the lighthouse.
  • Government shutting down electricity and water supplies.
  • Loss of public support.
  • Collision of two tankers in the Bay: Indians blamed by the police and the public.
  • June 10, 1971: armed federal agents storm the island and remove 15 people, ending the occupation of Alcatraz.

  • By the end of 1969: disarray & 2 groups questioning Oakes' leadership.
  • January, 1970: students going back to university.
  • Urban Indians joining the movement, new claims:
  • before: "right of discovery"
  • after: 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty
  • Arrival of San Francisco hippie & drug culture.
  • Oakes forced to leave due to his stepdaughter's death.
  • ineffective secret negotiations.
  • support decreasing, bad press, open use of drugs and alcohol...
  • Federal government's reaction: waiting game.
  • result of many demonstrations, Kent University shootings and Nixon's self-determination policies being put forward.
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