The American Indian Movement and Occupation of Alcatraz - Research Paper Example

The American Indian Movement and Occupation of Alcatraz 1. Introduction If contemporary Native American Indians’ activism and politics evoke any image among the American general masses and media, it is generally one of two events: the American Indian Movement’s (AIM) armed seizure of Wounded Knee in 1973, or Alcatraz Island’s occupation in 1969. The Red Power Movement of the 1960s and 1970s reflects the long term struggle of Native Americans against dispossession and colonialism and the fight for the protection of Indigenous rights (Kiel 10). In the era of Civil Rights Movement, various social movements were on the rise in the United States; however, Native Indian activism was still struggling to find its way in achieving rights of sovereignty and freedom for all the Native Americans in the country. The growing popularity of the American Indian Movement in the late 1960s and the early 1970s and the occupation of Alcatraz in 1969 inspired the Indians to unite and actively participate in the activism which started in the urban cities (Amarilla 1). The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the American Indian Movement and the occupation of Alcatraz. By means of various reports and available facts, the paper discusses the role of the American Indian Movement in the activism. Also, it highlights various details of occupation of Alcatraz and its significance in context of Indigenous activism. 2. The American Indian Movement 2.1 History The American Indian Movement (AIM), an armed American Indian civil rights organization, was formed in 1968 in Minneapolis by Dennis Banks, George Mitchell, Eddie Benton Banai, and Clyde Bellecourt. In following years, Russell Means emerged as the leading spokesman for the organization (“American Indian Movement”). The organization was established in response to police brutality against Native Indian Americans. However, its origins can be traced in the civil right movement of the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) in the early 1960s. In 1854, Governor of Washington, Isaac Stevens signed a treaty that allowed the native tribes to do fishing according to own traditional styles and preserve the cultural heritage. However, according to the 1960s law reformation, cultural heritage and fishing rights are independent issues and hence, it was prohibited to use traps, nets, and spears (which were the traditional means of fishing for Native Americans) under the state laws (Shepherd 1-2). Also, the federal government’s “termination policy” brought the tribal lands under state control. Native Indians tribes that came under state jurisdiction suffered immense loss of land and increased poverty. Many Native men migrated to urban areas for livelihood, however, their poverty continued (Shepherd 1-2). In urban cities, Native Americans suffered a massive oppression, discrimination, and racism. In urbanized surroundings, Native Americans became increasingly restless and knowledgeable about their rights and injustice. Consequently, in 1968, a group of urban Native Americans in Minneapolis founded the American Indian Movement (AIM) to protect the Indian community in the city from police abuse and to develop opportunities for education, housing, and job for the community members (Churchill 2). 2.2. AIM’s Contribution Even though the original purpose of the AIM was to protect Native American in urban ghettos from the government policies and programs that forced them out of reservations, its objectives soon covered the whole range of Indian demands which includes financial independence, protection of legal rights, revitalization of Native culture, and most importantly, sovereignty of tribal regions and the restoration of tribal lands that were believed to be seized illegally by the government (Bellecourt 4). Due to the organization’s charismatic leadership and its tactics of occupying properties, the AIM received massive media attention and quickly emerged as the best-know Native American activist group during the era of Red Power Movement (Kiel 10-11). In the late 1971, the American Indian Movement organized a march on Washington D.C., to highlight the issues of living standards, poor housing, and treaty rights of Native Americans. The protest involved over 1000 of angry Indians, which is later known as the “Trail of Broken Treaties.” The protest quickly escalated into the forceful occupation of the headquarters of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). After capturing the headquarters, the protesters stole confidential files from the BIA offices and damaged over $2 million worth of property. The protestors also gave the list 20 demands to the US President Nixon for quick action. The Nixon government compensated $66000 for peaceful end of the protest and also approved Native Americans’ recruitment to the BIA posts (Baylor 16-17). The AIM’s another prominent success was in terms of 1973 Wounded Knee incident. Wounded Knee is the small, historically important village in South Dakota which is known for 1890 tragic massacre of Native Indians by the US Cavalry. In 1973, around 210 members of local Lakota Indians under the leadership of AIM, occupied Wounded Knee and declared it as a free state. Their demand was the return of the western half portion of South Dakota, which was called as the Great Sioux Nation, as supposedly promised to the Indians by the US government through the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 (Guadagni 11-12). During the confrontation between the tribal council president Dick Wilson and AIM over the participation in reservation meetings and public gatherings, AIM opted forceful means and built fortifications in Wounded Knee, forcing the federal government to interfere. In highly publicized occupation for almost 71 days, 2 AIM members were killed and several were seriously injured. Eventually, the AIM and federal government concluded the “peace pact”, assuring the AIM members fair treatment and fair examination of various treaties that were allegedly considered as oppressive and biased against the Native Americans (Churchill 5-6). After the violent incidents of Pine Ridge in the mid-1970s, the American Indian Movement rapidly declined in terms of both momentum and leadership. After 1978, the AIM dismantled as the national organization (The Gale Group). 2.3 Significance of the AIM The real success of the AIM’s activities like the Trail of Broken Treaties, Wounded Knee Incident, and the Pine Ridge was in terms of massive media attention. With the growing experience, the AIM members also learnt to use their popularity and media attention to create public awareness about the unsolved issues and injustice against the Native American community over the years (Shepherd 5). Due to the efforts of AIM, the US government passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978 to examine and reform federal laws and policies related to matters such as the Indians’ right to access holy lands and legal rights to preserve and practice own traditional rituals and religion (The Gale Group). Since the late 1970s, AIM has successfully developed over 1450 high schools, colleges, and universities, allowing the Native American students equal opportunities of education and career growth. After years of AIM’s advocacy, world’s first Permanent Forum about the Rights of Indigenous People in the World and the International Treaty Council were formed by the United Nations in 2000. Eventually, in 2007, the United Nations passed the “Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, protecting the fundamental human rights of over 380 million Indigenous people across the world and it became reality because of the ceaseless efforts and contribution of the American Indian Movement (Bellecourt 10-11). Also, another great impact of the AIM was the motivation for the Occupying Alcatraz movement in 1969. After the birth of AIM in 1969, it quickly became popular among the Indian masses due to its aggressive protests against the injustice done by the US government to their community. The core principles of AIM and its ideas served as the great inspiration for the Native Americans who occupied Alcatraz in 1969, which was the beginning of revolutionary Native activism in coming years (Burnett 3). 3. Occupying Alcatraz 3.1 Background In order to understand why the Indians targeted Alcatraz for the occupation movement, it is necessary to examine the background and importance of the Alcatraz Island for the Native Americans. Europeans discovered the San Francisco Bay and its nearby islands in 1542. However, native indigenous people (who were also called as the Ohlone) lived in the region way long before the arrival of Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The prior use of Alcatraz Island by the Native Americans is difficult to recognize as most community and tribal history was oral and carried generation-to-generation verbally. A great portion of this history has vanished due to the significant reduction of the Native population in the region during the European colonization (“We Hold the Rock”). According to the available information, Alcatraz Island was used as the isolation place for the community members who had committed crime or violated the community taboo or law and was used as the area for collecting foods, especially marine-life and bird eggs. It is also found that during the colonial era, many Native American used Alcatraz Island as a hiding place to avoid the California Mission system (Amarilla 2-3). After the conversion of Alcatraz into prison by the US government in the late 19th century, both civilians and military prisoners were confined on the Island. Among the prisoners, there were many Native Americans. Throughout the late 19th century and the early 20th century, the US government regularly confined American Indians as prisoners under disciplinary charges (“We Hold the Rock”). Besides traditional and emotional connection with the Alcatraz Island, it was important for the Native Americans in the context of political backgrounds. In the 1950s, the US government introduced the Termination and Relocation programs. According to its first clause, indigenous Americans were required to relocate into urban areas from their respective land of reservation. In doing so, it was expected that the Indians would lose their tribal unity and separately integrate as the US citizens into different cities, allowing the federal government to liquidate their reserved lands into the federal property. Also, it would allow the government to terminate all the previous treaties Native Americans as they would no longer possess any sovereign land (Amarilla 2-3). Relocated Native Americans were assured financial assistance, standard housing, and vocational training, but ironically, none of these were ever provided. Instead, the most of the Native population wandered through big cities without any knowledge of English and job skills, living in extremely poor conditions without any basic facilities. During the 1960s, as a result of mass relocation policy, over 42,000 Native Americans inhabited San Francisco and the nearby urban regions. In the peak of Civil Rights Movement in the US, the Native population from the San Francisco region formed political and social organization to preserve own culture and to fight for the rights of indigenous people (Ross). By the late 1960s, the Native Americans’ community in San Francisco was one of the prominent organizations of the Indians in the country. On October 28th, 1969, the Sand Francisco Indian Center was destroyed by a sudden fire. The place had been the shelter for the relocated Natives, health care, legal service and employment center (Ross). Over the past few years, the Native activists were considering to occupy the Alcatraz to protest against the discrimination and constant negligence towards the issues of indigenous Americans by the federal government. Also, they wanted to use the Island as the cultural and education center for the Native American. After the fire accident, with no place to meet or shelter, the Center’s decision to occupy the Alcatraz Island became final (“We Hold the Rock”). Also, through the sarcastic tone, the leaders of occupying Alcatraz movement presented the main reasons why Alcatraz is identical to the federal reservation for the Native Americans: 1-It is deserted from modern facilities and without sufficient means of transportation. 2- There is no supply of fresh water. 3- There is a lack of basic sanitation facilities. 4- There are not any mineral and or oil rights. 5- There is industrialization; hence, the unemployment is very high. In a way, through the occupation of Alcatraz, Native American wanted to symbolize and highlight their dire living conditions and oppression (Amarilla 13). 3.2 Occupation There were three attempts of occupation of Alcatraz Island by the Native Americans in the 1960s; the fist on March 9th, 1964, the second on November 9th, 1969, and the final on November 20th, 1969 which lasted for almost 19 months (“We Hold the Rock”). The occupation in 1964 lasted only for 4 hours and was conducted by five Sioux under the leadership of Richard McKenzie. Despite its short nature, the occupation was significant as its demands of using the Island for the educational and cultural center of the Native Americans would surface again during the major occupation in 1969. On November 9th, 1960, the occupation was organized by the group of urban Indians from the San Francisco Bay area and the Indian students under the leadership of Richard Oakes. Due to the participation of various Indian tribes from different areas, the “Indians of All Tribes” (IAT) was titled to the group (“We Hold the Rock”). On November 9th 1969, 75 Native Americans were ready to occupy Alcatraz; however, the boats didn’t show up. In order to keep the media engaged, Richard Oakes came up as the spokesperson. After few hours, Adam Eagle persuaded the captain to give the Native group a symbolic ride around the Alcatraz Island. But, when the boat was circling the Island, Oakes and other four members jumped into waters and swam to Alcatraz. Even though they were quickly removed from the Island by the coast Guard, they promptly claimed the Island by the right of discovery (Ross). Basically, the 1868 Sioux treaty with the US government gave the rights to Sioux people to claim the ownership of the federal lands that were abandoned and unused. Alcatraz Island was declared as the surplus property in 1953 by the federal government, validating the right of discovery of Indians through the 1868 treaty (Johnson 64). First two attempts of occupation were not successful as there were only few activists and it was easy for the coast guards to remove them forcefully. However, on the early morning of November 20th, 1969, 78 Indian activists landed on the Alcatraz Island and occupied it (Amarilla 11). After the occupation, the activists quickly established well-organized system on the Island. The council was formed and Richard Oakes was unanimously elected as the chief, the leader, and the mayor of Alcatraz. Each person on the Island was assigned particular duty, including cooking, housing, sanitation, security, laundry, school and day-care. The US government in the beginning emphasized on the evacuation of the Island and put a temporary barricade around the Alcatraz Island (“We Hold the Rock”). Oakes demanded the return of Alcatraz to the Native Americans and adequate funds for constructing and maintaining the Indian University and Indian cultural center on the Island. With the growing media attention, the occupying Alcatraz movement emerged as the symbol of self-determination. Supplies were sent to the Island from private citizens and businesses. With the growing publicity, Native Indians from all parts of the country began to participate in the movement. Due to the growing public pressure, the federal government began the talks with the Indians; but the leaders of All Indians Tribes refused to compromise on anything that didn’t grant them the ownership of the Island. With no intention to give up the Island, the US government began waiting game and hoped that living conditions would become difficult for the activists and there would be no need of any negotiation (Ross). Soon the government’s strategy began to prove successful. Without sufficient supplies, water and electricity, living conditions on the Island were becoming increasingly unbearable day by day. Drug and alcohol abuse on the Island was significantly increasing. Despite strict ban, substances were regularly smuggled on the Island. Second, once the curiosity of exploring the Island was over, the immense boredom and anarchism began to appear. Accidents, fights, and verbal arguments became more and more common on the Island. After the initial few months, Oaks and his family were rarely present on the Island. He was busy in the negotiations with the donors and businesses on the mainland to maintain the required social and financial support for the movement. However, due to his regular absence on the Island, many members began to doubt his leadership and dedication for the occupation. The activists were divided into two groups and increasingly involved in conflicts and fights for the leadership and control (Kelly 84-85). The final dealt to the occupation happened on January 5th, 1970, when Richard Oakes’ 13 years old daughter fell into three-floored stairwell to the death. The tragic accident led to the departure of Oakes from the Alcatraz Island. Later, the two opposing groups on the island engaged in continuous struggle for the leadership, triggering a completely chaotic and anarchic situation on the island. Soon, the number of participants on the island began to decrease. Eventually, when there were only 15 people, including 6 unarmed men, 5 women, and 4 children, were left on Alcatraz, the armed federal forces removed them from the Island. In a way, on June 10th, 1971, after 19 months of occupation, the occupying Alcatraz movement was officially over (“We Hold the Rock”). 3.3. Impact of Occupying Alcatraz In the article, “the Efficacy of Red Power”, Kelly Rias argued that the occupation of Alcatraz was the first widespread Indian movement in which Native Americans from all parts of the country actively participated and showed a great example of indigenous unity to the nation. Even though the occupation failed to gain its demands, many scholars considered the movement successful in terms of gaining much needed public attention and awareness towards the issues of Native people. The Alcatraz occupation also proved an awakening point for the majority of Indians, inspiring them to fight for own rights. The occupation also triggered cultural consciousness in the Native community. Most of the Indians credited the Alcatraz occupation for the rising of the Indian Rights Movement in the later years (Burnett 7-10). In the early 1970s, the US government introduced many pro-indigenous policies and terminated most of the anti-indigenous laws and policies of the past. In 1972, the Congress passed the Indian Education Act (IEA). Between 1971 and 1976, the Indian Health Service (HIS) budget was increased by almost two times. Also, in 1996, the federal government passed the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. Over 15 new federal laws and policies related to minority’s rights have slowly begun to improve the standard of life for the Native Americans (Chavers). 4. Conclusion In the American history, the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the occupation of Alcatraz possess a significant importance. The occupation of Alcatraz and the American Indian Movement (AIM) inspired the revolutionary Indian activism in the 1960s and the 1970s. Both the AIM and the occupying Alcatraz movement brought much needed public attention towards the issues of indigenous communities and eventually, pressurized the federal government to acknowledge the rights of Native Americans. Due to these movements, today, Native Americans have secured state benefits and support, allowing them to improve their lifestyles and preserve own culture and traditional heritage. Works Cited Amarilla, Michael. “Recognition Deserved: The Impacts of the Native American Occupation of Alcatraz 1969-1971.” hss.fullerton.edu (2012):1-27. Web. 8 December 2015. “American Indian Movement”. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2015. Web. 8 December 2015. Baylor, Timothy. “The American Indian Movement’s Strategic Choices: Environmental Limitations and Organizational Outcomes.” www.se.edu (2007): 9-19. Web. 8 December 2015. Bellecourt, Clyde. “American Indian Movement: Past, Present and Future.” International Indian Treaty Council (2015): 1-12. Web. 8 December 2015. Burnett, Katherine. “The Legacy of the Occupation of Alcatraz.” Santa Fe College (2012): 1-16. Web. 8 December 2015. Chavers, Dean. “Alcatraz Occupation Four Decades Ago Led to Many Benefits for American Indians.” Indian Country, 2011. Web. 8 December 2015. Churchill, Ward. “The Bloody Wake of Alcatraz: Political Repression of the American Indian Movement during the 1970s.” Civil Rights Teaching (1997): 1-9. Web. 8 December 2015. Guadagni, Rachael. “American Indian Activism and the Rise of Red Power.” scholarworks.umb.edu (2015): 1-13. Web. 8 December 2015. Johnson, Troy. “The Occupation of Alcatraz Island: Roots of American Indian Activism.” Wicazo Sa Review 10.2 (1994): 63-79. Web. 8 December 2015. Kelly, Casey Ryan. “The Rhetoric of Red Power and the American Indian Occupation of Alcatraz Island (1969-1971).” The University of Minnesota (2009): 1-346. Web. 8 December 2015. Kiel, Doug. “Rebuilding Indigenous Nation.” Expedition 55.3 (2013): 9-11. Web. 8 December 2015. Ross, Alexa. “Native Americans occupy Alcatraz for land rights, 1969-1971.” Global Nonviolent Action Database, 2010. Web. 8 December 2015. Shepherd, Deborah J. “AIM: The American Indian Movement from the 20th to the 21st Century.” Popular Anthropology Magazine 3.1 (2012): 1-8. Web. 8 December 2015. The Gale Group. “American Indian Movement.” West's Encyclopedia of American Law, 2005. Web. 8 December 2015. “We Hold the Rock.” National Park Service: The US Department of Interior, 2015. Web. 8 December 2015. Read More