Abstract:
This article analyzes the actions and proclamations of Indian activists who occupied the island of Alcatraz between November 1969 and June 1971. On that occasion the Indian students, calling themselves “Indians of all Tribes”, arrived at the old federal prison and claimed the island as Indian territory in order to establish an Indian University and an Indian cultural center. By examining the public manifestos of the movement we hope to understand how the Indians viewed their own history both as an instrument to legitimize political demonstrations as well as an instrument for forging an interethnic political agenda. The article will analyze how the Indians who took control of Alcatraz believed their actions might ameliorate the harsh social conditions facing all Indian people in 1969, whether those native Americans lived in urban areas or on Indian reservations.
Keywords:
United States; Indian movement; Alcatraz island