Alcatraz Island

Native American attack and Occupation of Alcatraz Island



Introduction

At the very beginning the United States History is a moment of European exploration and settlement, beginning with the 16th century to the present. But people have lived in America for 30.000 years before the first European colonists arrived. When Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador in 1492 it was approved by the brown skin of people whose appearance confirmed him in his opinion, that he finally reached India, and which, therefore, he called Indios, Indians, a name which, but wrong in its first application continued to hold its own, and has long been won universal acceptance, with the exception of strictly scientific works, where a more precise term American is commonly used. As exploration was extended north and south, it was found that the same race was spread across the continent from the Arctic shores to Cape Horn, as everywhere in the main physical characteristics, except for the Inuit in the far north (whose features suggest the Mongolian).

General Background

Occupiers held the island of nearly eighteen months, from November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, the development of it as Indian land and the demands of justice and respect for Indian peoples. They are unlikely mix of Indian college activists, families with children fresh off reservations and urban dwellers disenchanted with what they call the economic, social and political neglect of the U.S. government. Since long before the Modoc and Hopi leaders were held in Alcatraz in the late 1800's, American policy toward the Indians worsened, despite repeated requests from the Indian leaders to honor treaties and tribal sovereignty. Occupation of Alcatraz was about human rights, said the occupants. Was no effort to restore the dignity of more than 554 American Indians in the United States? Historians and other experts say the occupation, even though chaotic and laced with tragedy, improve the conditions for the 2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives alive today.

"Alcatraz was a big enough symbol that for the first time in this century, the Indians were serious," said Vine Deloria Jr., a University of Colorado at Boulder law professor, philosopher, writer and historian. Alcatraz Island has changed everything.

Challenges

As time passed, the island became more difficult place to live. December 4, Alcatraz lost all electrical power and GSA disabled incoming phone calls. Both the primary water supply and the fuel line was leaking. Many of the original occupants were students, and some have returned to college to keep their scholarships and loans. Some of the new occupiers were less idealistic, and others were drug problem. Some non-Indians from the San Francisco drug and hippie culture moved to the island. Worse, the leadership of the struggle on the island increased, as some groups resented the media attention that Richard Oakes received.

Tragedy on Alcatraz

January 3, 1970, Richard Oakes in 13-year-old stepdaughter, Yvonne fell on a concrete slab and died almost immediately. A few days after she died, Oakes and his family left the island for good, creating a void ...