All Nations Gathering at Alcatraz

In November, 1969, Richard Oakes, a Mohawk from Akwesasne, who was an iron worker and an enrolled student of San Francisco State University, led a movement to bring Native American rights into the light. He, along with other Onkwehonwe of many nations, reclaimed Alcatraz Island, to bring attention to the civil injustices created by the US government. It was an event that not only raised the consciousness of American people, but it raised the consciousness of Onkwehonwe of all nations.

At the time of the occupation and in his own words, Richard delivered this Proclamation:

"We, the Native Americans, reclaim this 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 all Caucasian inhabitants of this land, and hereby offer the following treaty.

We will purchase said Alcatraz Island for $24.00 and 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 $24.00 and 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 man is 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 Government, for as long as the sun shall rise and the rivers go down to the sea, to be administered by the Bureau of Caucasian Affairs. We will further guide the inhabitants on 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."

Many of the original participants at the time of the occupation, like Richard, were university students and young people who had witnessed civil unrest experienced by Black people and the unpopularity of the US involvement in the Viet Nam war. The occupation of Alcatraz Island lasted for 19 months, and sadly, Richard Oakes was shot to death in 1972 while he confronted a man who was mistreating Native kids. The man, Morgan, who was a horse rancher in Santa Rosa, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was set free. This enraged those who stood by Richard at Alcatraz.

The occupation of Alcatraz Island and the ideas of this movement gave rise to the American Indian Movement and to other events across Turtle Island. More leaders stepped up to bring awareness to civil injustices. The Trail of Broken Treaties, the occupation of the BIA Building, Wounded Knee, The Longest Walk and many other movements would take place, soon after Richard Oakes took a stand at Alcatraz Island. As a result, lands were being returned to the Navajo, Pueblo and Klamath people. President Nixon repudiated the Termination Policy of the United States Government. Housing, education and employment programs were developed as consciousness to the needs of Onkwehonwe were raised. And yet, with all the success that came out of the occupation and other movements, there is still a long way to go.

On February 13, 2016, the people who occupied Alcatraz all those years ago were reunited in a celebration named "Indians of All Tribes Day." Today, Alcatraz Island is a park and the Park personnel welcomed and assisted with this event.

Upon arrival to Alcatraz, the people gathered beneath a sign that was painted by the original occupiers. Welcoming speeches were given and a '69 Class Reunion picture was taken. People shared their experience of living on Alcatraz Island during the occupation. We heard from the "Kids of Alcatraz," who shared their stories of what it was like to be part of this historic event. One of these "kids" was Alan Harrison. He described how his mother packed up and they travelled, not knowing where or why they were travelling, and ending up on the Island. He told of how he and the other kids had a great time playing. How they would receive donations of clothing and food from the outside world and even how Mattel, the toy company, sent big expensive toys for all the kids since they weren't home celebrating Christmas.

There was another story from a woman named Sarah James who came from Alaska. She said she had just graduated from university and had gotten a job when she learned that Richard Oakes was organizing the take-over of Alcatraz Island and what it meant to the rights of the Native Americans. She said she didn't have to think hard about it, she just knew she was going. While she was there, she said there was a lot of support and white people sympathized with them. They sent food and clothing. She recounts a time where a boat loaded with all kinds of alcohol was sent to the Island and their leader, Richard Oakes told the boat driver that drugs and alcohol were not allowed on the Island. If anyone was caught with drugs or alcohol, they were made to leave the Island.

Sarah said she was around 23 years old when she was at Alcatraz. Today, she is very concerned with the changing climate and the affect it has on her homeland in Alaska. She's also very concerned with the encroachment of oil outfits and takes every opportunity to raise awareness for the protection of the environment. She described herself as a follower at the time she lived at Alcatraz, but today, she's a leading voice for the animals, land and waters.

Leonard Peltier painted a self-portrait since he's been imprisoned. From this painting, Rigo 23, has sculpted a figurine in the likeness of the portrait painted by Leonard. Rigo hopes to raise enough funds to recreate this sculpture using permanent materials such as bronze, and the sculpture will be 9 feet tall. You will see this sculpture in the pictures provided.

There were performers who shared traditional songs as part of the celebration. There were Aztec Dancers, the Neena McNair Women's Drum Group, Mignon Geli sharing her flute songs and Kontiwennahawi, who travelled from Ahkwesahsne.

Kontiwennahawi would like to acknowledge the Akwesasne Convenience Store Association, who assisted the group in travelling to this special event. They are so very grateful that the ACSA would provide them with support in this way.