alcatraz siege 1969

what were NA inspired by and what it led to

• AA civil rights movement

• led to a willingness to unite in protest, shown in 1964 when hundreds of Native Americans gathered in Washington DC for recognition in Johnson’s ‘War on Poverty’

• inspired by the success and visibility of AA protest, which encouraged Native Americans to believe collective action could work.

JFK promised vs actions

• promised to develop the human and natural resources of reservations.

• In practice, little changed:

  • set up a task force in 1961 to investigate Indian policy.

  • some proposals were implemented later, but termination was not ended

  • provided more funding for education, but improvements were mostly on the fringes of reservations, not on them

• similar to AA in that there were promises but limited immediate results

NCAI function

• worked through the courts to improve conditions for Native Americans.

• had some legal successes and gained JFK’s pledge, though it was unfulfilled.

• similar to moderate AA civil rights organisations because:

  • used legal methods rather than militancy

  • progress was slow, causing frustration among younger activists

red power

a response to:

• slow progress through legal methods

• poverty and assimilation

• militant Black Power, which inspired a more assertive approach

ways NA gained media attention

1. music and literature

   • As Long as the Grass Shall Grow (1968)

   • Custer Died For Your Sins (1969)

   • Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1970)

2. fish-ins (1968)

   • protested after treaty fishing rights were ignored.

3. AIM street patrols

   • young activists monitored police behaviour, wearing red berets.

4. high-profile occupations

   • especially the siege of Alcatraz, designed to attract global media attention

parallels to AA

• used militant protest

• drew attention through media-focused action

• demanded pride, recognition, and rights

• Red Power was directly inspired by Black Power

1969 alcatraz

• 14 NA occupied Alcatraz, a deserted former prison island.

• occupation later grew to around 80 people and lasted until June 1971.

what did alcatraz occupiers want

the return of Alcatraz, which had once belonged to NA.

alcatraz siege led by

Richard Oakes, with negotiations run by Adam Fortunate Eagle

manhattan price

• they offered $24 in beads and cloth to:

  • highlight the unfair historical treatment of NA

  • mock the injustice of how Native land had been taken cheaply.

why alcatraz

• former Native land

• symbol of harsh imprisonment, representing poverty and neglect

• highly visible to the world’s media

significance

• raised national and international awareness of NA poverty.

• inspired further militant action, especially through AIM.

• forced a reappraisal of government policy, increasing Native American involvement in health, education, and economic development

highlighted the struggles of Indigenous people.

AIM

modelled on militant Black Power groups because:

• It used street patrols

• It challenged racial discrimination directly

• It emphasised pride, unity, and self-determination

why ubrnisation failed

• led to poverty and misery

• failed to assimilate Native Americans

• strengthened determination to preserve culture

• ended tribal status without improving rights