What action did the Native Americans take?
Choosing Alcatraz
The Native Americans first had to find a location that was able to become a proper Native American reservation. The location was Alcatraz. They chose Alcatraz for many reasons, stated in the Alcatraz Proclamation.
"We, the native Americans, re-claim the land known as Alcatraz Island in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery.
We wish to be fair and honorable in our dealings with the Caucasian inhabitants of this land, and hereby offer the following treaty:
We will purchase said Alcatraz Island for twenty-four dollars ($24) in glass beads and red cloth, a precedent set by the white man's purchase of a similar island about 300 years ago. We know that $24 in trade goods for these 16 acres is more than was paid when Manhattan Island was sold, but we know that land values have risen over the years. Our offer of $1.24 per acre is greater than the 47¢ per acre that the white men are now paying the California Indians for their land. We will give to the inhabitants of this island a portion of that land for their own, to be held in trust by the American Indian Affairs [sic] and by the bureau of Caucasian Affairs to hold in perpetuity—for as long as the sun shall rise and the rivers go down to the sea. We will further guide the inhabitants in the proper way of living. We will offer them our religion, our education, our life-ways, in order to help them achieve our level of civilization and thus raise them and all their white brothers up from their savage and unhappy state. We offer this treaty in good faith and wish to be fair and honorable in our dealings with all white men.
We feel that this so-called Alcatraz Island is more than suitable for an Indian Reservation, as determined by the white man's own standards. By this we mean that this place resembles most Indian reservations in that:
1. It is isolated from modern facilities, and without adequate means of transportation.
2. It has no fresh running water.
3. It has inadequate sanitation facilities.
4. There are no oil or mineral rights.
5. There is no industry and so unemployment is very great.
6. There are no health care facilities.
7. The soil is rocky and non-productive; and the land does not support game.
8. There are no educational facilities.
9. The population has always exceeded the land base.
10. The population has always been held as prisoners and kept dependent upon others.
Further, it would be fitting and symbolic that ships from all over the world, entering the Golden Gate, would first see Indian land, and thus be reminded of the true history of this nation. This tiny island would be a symbol of the great lands once ruled by free and noble Indians."
"We, the native Americans, re-claim the land known as Alcatraz Island in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery.
We wish to be fair and honorable in our dealings with the Caucasian inhabitants of this land, and hereby offer the following treaty:
We will purchase said Alcatraz Island for twenty-four dollars ($24) in glass beads and red cloth, a precedent set by the white man's purchase of a similar island about 300 years ago. We know that $24 in trade goods for these 16 acres is more than was paid when Manhattan Island was sold, but we know that land values have risen over the years. Our offer of $1.24 per acre is greater than the 47¢ per acre that the white men are now paying the California Indians for their land. We will give to the inhabitants of this island a portion of that land for their own, to be held in trust by the American Indian Affairs [sic] and by the bureau of Caucasian Affairs to hold in perpetuity—for as long as the sun shall rise and the rivers go down to the sea. We will further guide the inhabitants in the proper way of living. We will offer them our religion, our education, our life-ways, in order to help them achieve our level of civilization and thus raise them and all their white brothers up from their savage and unhappy state. We offer this treaty in good faith and wish to be fair and honorable in our dealings with all white men.
We feel that this so-called Alcatraz Island is more than suitable for an Indian Reservation, as determined by the white man's own standards. By this we mean that this place resembles most Indian reservations in that:
1. It is isolated from modern facilities, and without adequate means of transportation.
2. It has no fresh running water.
3. It has inadequate sanitation facilities.
4. There are no oil or mineral rights.
5. There is no industry and so unemployment is very great.
6. There are no health care facilities.
7. The soil is rocky and non-productive; and the land does not support game.
8. There are no educational facilities.
9. The population has always exceeded the land base.
10. The population has always been held as prisoners and kept dependent upon others.
Further, it would be fitting and symbolic that ships from all over the world, entering the Golden Gate, would first see Indian land, and thus be reminded of the true history of this nation. This tiny island would be a symbol of the great lands once ruled by free and noble Indians."
The 3 Occupations
So with Alcatraz as their location, the Native Americans set out on March 9, 1964 to claim their land, not yet having written the proclamation. Five Dakota Sioux Indians, including Allen Cottier, President of the Bay Area branch of the American Indian Council, and Richard McKenzie, were the only occupants at the time. The occupation was interrupted by A.L. Aylworth who informed them of trespassing. Elliot Leighton, the attorney representing the American Indian Council, read him the Treaty of Fort Laramie, which returns all abandoned and run down federal land, explaining that they had the right to be occupying Alcatraz. A.L Aylworth words got to them and after only four hours they left the island.
The next occupation was held on November 9, 1969 and lasted one day. The occupation was led by Richard Oakes and a few other Mohawk Indians. They were quickly removed from the island, but later that day 14 more indians arrived at Alcatraz and stayed the night, realizing that a prolonged occupation was possible. Although the first two occupation may not have been the most effective, they were recognized by media, and sparked a bigger occupation to come.
The third and final occupation started on November 20, 1969. The occupation was led by the group Indians of all Tribes. The Alcatraz Proclamation was finally written by Adam Fortunate Eagle and given by Richard Oakes to acknowledge their actions and state that the island was rightfully theirs by discovery. The island established a democracy-like government to have some leadership on the island and negotiate with Washington D.C.. Richard Oakes was one of the members of the board and contributed greatly. Richard Oakes also wrote a letter to the San Francisco Department of the Inferior.
"We invite the United States to acknowledge the justice of our claim. The choice now lies with the leaders of the American government - to use violence upon us as before to remove us from our Great Spirit's land, or to institute a real change in its dealing with the American Indian. We do not fear your threat to charge us with crimes on our land. We and all other oppressed peoples would welcome spectacle of proof before the world of your title by genocide. Nevertheless, we seek peace."
The next occupation was held on November 9, 1969 and lasted one day. The occupation was led by Richard Oakes and a few other Mohawk Indians. They were quickly removed from the island, but later that day 14 more indians arrived at Alcatraz and stayed the night, realizing that a prolonged occupation was possible. Although the first two occupation may not have been the most effective, they were recognized by media, and sparked a bigger occupation to come.
The third and final occupation started on November 20, 1969. The occupation was led by the group Indians of all Tribes. The Alcatraz Proclamation was finally written by Adam Fortunate Eagle and given by Richard Oakes to acknowledge their actions and state that the island was rightfully theirs by discovery. The island established a democracy-like government to have some leadership on the island and negotiate with Washington D.C.. Richard Oakes was one of the members of the board and contributed greatly. Richard Oakes also wrote a letter to the San Francisco Department of the Inferior.
"We invite the United States to acknowledge the justice of our claim. The choice now lies with the leaders of the American government - to use violence upon us as before to remove us from our Great Spirit's land, or to institute a real change in its dealing with the American Indian. We do not fear your threat to charge us with crimes on our land. We and all other oppressed peoples would welcome spectacle of proof before the world of your title by genocide. Nevertheless, we seek peace."
The students involved in the occupation were at first, only from the area, but as the 18 months passed, 5,600 American Indians joined in the movement, a good portion of them students from UCLA, Berkeley, and San Francisco State.
On January 3, 1970 Richard Oakes' daughter fell down a flight of stairs, landed on a concrete slab, and died. Due to the tragedy the Oakes family left the island and left the island's government lost, with no true leadership. From here on the occupation started to go down hill. Original student occupants left to go back to school, media support was lessening, and the government took away the water barge and electricity at Alcatraz. About two weeks later, a fire broke out and burned down many historical buildings, including the lighthouse.
On January 3, 1970 Richard Oakes' daughter fell down a flight of stairs, landed on a concrete slab, and died. Due to the tragedy the Oakes family left the island and left the island's government lost, with no true leadership. From here on the occupation started to go down hill. Original student occupants left to go back to school, media support was lessening, and the government took away the water barge and electricity at Alcatraz. About two weeks later, a fire broke out and burned down many historical buildings, including the lighthouse.
President Nixon and The Media
The media played a roll throughout the entire American Indian Movement. It helped the first two occupations gain media and civilian support through recognition, but in the final occupation it was a key aspect. The media sent money, food, and clothes and provided the island with a medical center, a small school, and plenty of support. As the occupation went on media started to grow, there was a daily newscast from the island, and a newspaper was also being published. Before the news of the Indian Occupation got around, President Nixon was informed that he could easily have all of the occupant removed within a few hours, but Nixon decided that he would listed to their demands and negotiate with them. Nixon not taking the offer to have them removed was a big step in the right direction, but there was still a long way to go.
When Richard Oakes left the island so did many of the original students. The students were replaced with new occupants, a majority of the new occupants had drug-addictions. With Oakes gone, the island government fell apart and fought over power and rules which led to a disarray of leadership. Three of the new occupants were later arrested for stripping copper wire and selling it as scrap metal. Thats when Alcatraz lost most of the media support, and things went for bad, to worse.
After about 17 months of cooperation with the government, the negotiations were at a stand still and nobody was getting anywhere. This was when Nixon decided to cut off the water and electrical supply at Alcatraz. After the fire, he decided that enough was enough and finally made the call to have the 15 remaining occupants removed. After 18 months the occupation finally ended on June 11, 1971.
After about 17 months of cooperation with the government, the negotiations were at a stand still and nobody was getting anywhere. This was when Nixon decided to cut off the water and electrical supply at Alcatraz. After the fire, he decided that enough was enough and finally made the call to have the 15 remaining occupants removed. After 18 months the occupation finally ended on June 11, 1971.