Visitors to Alcatraz—the former prison off the coast of San Francisco, California—are greeted by the words "Indians Welcome," written in red paint across a wall. Alcatraz Island may be best known for some of its infamous prisoners during its operation as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. But the renowned penitentiary was also an important site in the struggle for Native American freedom and civil rights. The occupation of Alcatraz by Native Peoples from 1969 to 1971 helped shed light on their plight. It also set the stage for the introduction of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

By the time Christopher Columbus landed in what are now the Americas in 1492, the Western Hemisphere had already been populated by Indigenous Peoples for tens of thousands of years. The San Francisco Bay Area alone was home to over 10,000 Indigenous people, later called the Ohlone. However, early colonization by Europeans resulted in disastrous losses of life and land for Native Americans. In the decades that followed, the U.S. government continued to strip sovereignty from Indigenous Peoples. Much later, in 1953, Congress began terminating federal treaty obligations with Native nations that had protected some Indigenous lands. The new policies were designed to force assimilation and diminish the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In 1969, Indigenous activists and others in the Bay Area banded together to organize a protest. Alcatraz was an ideal location, as the small island had once been Ohlone territory and now sat abandoned. On November 20, 1969, 89 Indigenous activists from different groups, calling themselves Indians of All Tribes (IAT), set sail to occupy Alcatraz Island. The group asserted its legal claim to Alcatraz by citing the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which declared that unused federal land would be returned to Native Peoples.

During the 19-month takeover of Alcatraz, IAT elected a governing body and established housing, a school, and a health center. IAT also published a newsletter and broadcast a syndicated radio show called Radio Free Alcatraz. Over the course of the occupation, the organization welcomed more than 10,000 visitors and housed hundreds of Indigenous residents. However, in time, IAT and the protest fell into disarray. The occupation ended on June 10, 1971, when federal law enforcement officials ushered out the handful of Indigenous people who remained on the island.

Although Alcatraz was lost, the months-long occupation was far from a failure. It inspired hundreds of Indigenous takeovers across the United States and also helped ignite social and political change. Morning Star Gali is the project director of Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples. Gali calls the occupation of Alcatraz "the spark that lit the flame of Indigenous resistance."

In 2021, the federal holiday known as Columbus Day was recognized via a presidential proclamation as Indigenous Peoples' Day. This annual holiday, observed on the second Monday of October, is celebrated in numerous cities and states across the country. It's marked by ceremonies that honor the resilience of Indigenous Peoples. "If you look into the history books, we are mostly talked about in the past tense," Ania, an Indigenous resident of the Bay Area, told The Peninsula Press. "[Indigenous Peoples' Day] is a constant opportunity to show that we're very much here and very much alive."

Each year, Alcatraz Island is visited by over 1.5 million people. Their first stop at the national park is beneath that "Indians Welcome" sign, where they learn about the reclamation of Alcatraz by Indigenous Peoples. These tourists may be eager to visit the famed prison cells. But Alcatraz also stands as a powerful monument to the history of Native Americans and the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights and freedom.

Think about and discuss these questions:

How would you summarize the main reasons why Native Peoples took over Alcatraz?

How would you summarize the main results of the protest at Alcatraz?
QUESTION 5

QUESTION 5 OF 8
 
5 / 8

Suppose Dionne wants to find out about the ways people mark Indigenous Peoples' Day in the United States. Dionne would find most of the information __________.


A.on a recording of the radio show that was broadcast on the occupied Alcatraz Island
B.in a book that describes the major events that led to the creation of national holidays
C.in a newspaper article about the closing of the federal prison on Alcatraz Island
D.on a website with information about celebrations being held across the country