In November of 1969, an historic event occurred in the San Francisco Bay which would leave a profound impact on the lives of Native Americans.  Beginning in the early afternoon of November 9, and continuing later that evening, a flurry of activities ignited the hopes and dreams of reclaiming Alcatraz Island in the name of Indian people.  Adam Fortunate Eagle led the first in a series of landing on November 9, 1969 with the support of Bay Area Native American community members and students.  Fortunate Eagle and a larger force of students returned to the island  that evening, and fourteen landed and spent the night.  Before being removed the following morning students stated to the press that plans to take the island stemmed from historical grievances with the US Government and the tragic burning of the American Indian Center in San Francisco.
 

Two weeks later, in the early    "Alcatraz was symbolic in the rebirth of Indian people to be recognized as a people, as human beings, whereas before, we were not.  We were not recognized, we were not legitimate...but we were able to raise not only the consciousness of other American people, but our own people as well, to re-establish our identity as Indian people, as a culture, as political entities." LaNada Boyer (Shonsone-Bannock) Student Leader/ Occupier

morning hours of November 20, approximately 90 Native American students and Bay Area community members gathered in Sausalito to begin the third journey to reclaim the island.  Led by university students Richard Oakes, LaNada (Means) Boyer, Al Miller, Joe Bill, Linda Aranaydo, John White Fox, and others the occupation of Alcatraz island set in motion what  would later be termed the "Red Power" movement of the 1970s.

     After the initial outpouring of local, national and international support, the growing number of Indians on Alcatraz settled in for a 19 month occupation intent on reclaiming the island as Indian land, as well as to bring national attention to the social and political struggles facing American Indians,  In June of 1971, US Federal Marshals removed the remaining Indian occupants, and although the physical occupation ended, the movement which Alcatraz ignited continued throughout Indian country.
 

The occupation of  Alcatraz,   was, political movement for the many Native Americans who were there, and for Native Americans who heard and talked about it on reservations and in cities across the country.  It is now considered by many Indian people a renaissance for Indian culture, traditions, identity and spirituality.  Today, Alcatraz stands out as a beacon of pride for Native Americans, a

however, much  more than  just a    "Following Alcatraz, there's the occupation of over 50 other federal facilities (by Indian people) for a total, in the 70s, of some 72 occupations that would take place.  many of these are either led by people who came from Alcatraz or they were participated in by people who came from Alcatraz or they said they were inspired by Alcatraz." Professor Troy Johnson Author,"The Occupation of Alcatraz Island"

symbol of freedom and self-determination, and a rebirth of our sense of identity, culture and traditions.

In the thirty years since the Alcatraz occupation, many Native American organizations which carry on the continuing struggle for Native American treaty rights, self determination, and related issues have a profound connection to Alcatraz, including the formation of D.Q. University, and The Day Break Star Institute in Seattle, WA.  In addition, many landmark activists events such as the Trail of Broken Treaties and the occupation of the BIA building in Washington, DC, Wounded Knee II, The Longest Walk, and The Walk for Justice, continued the spirit of the Occupation.  several years after the occupation Bill Wahpepah initiated the first "Un-Thanksgiving" on Alcatraz to remind the world that the struggles facing Native Americans continues.
**Info from page4 of the booklet given by the National Park Service on the Alcatraz Occupation commemoration
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