Indian Occupiers

In November, 1969, a group of American Indians calling themselves Indians of All Tribes seized Alcatraz Island to highlight continuing grievances against the federal government and to assert tribal rights to reclaim land. Composed of progressive college students in California, these urban descendants of nineteenth century warriors welcomed media coverage to raise national consciousness about contemporary tribal issues. During the occupation, they also considered converting Alcatraz into an Indian University, a cultural center, and a museum, but these ideas lost momentum as the number of occupiers dwindled because of the challenges of living on the island. After nineteen months, U.S. Marshals intervened to reclaim the government property, and the last occupiers were evicted in June, 1971. The occupation of Alcatraz became a landmark event that reinvigorated Native American pride and initiated dramatic legislative and cultural change. During the occupation, John Trudell of the Santee Dakota tribe spoke on public radio about the resilience of Native Americans in modern society, and he later became National Field Director of the American Indian Movement, while his music and poetry also affected audiences profoundly.

San Francisco, California · United States