THE OCCUPATION OF ALCATRAZ

Nov. 20, 1969, a group of Native college students called United Indians of All Tribes, occupied Alcatraz Island under both “The Right of Discovery” the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) which promised to return all retired, abandoned or out-of-use federal lands to the Native peoples from whom it was originally acquired. Policymakers were forced to respond. In 1969 President Richard Nixon rescinded the Indian Termination Policy and established a new policy of Indian Self-Determination.  We wanted to make a shirt to remind people of this take over, and while the graffiti left behind remains the only visible sign of the movement on Alcatraz, the heart of its legacy remains through tribal sovereignty, cultural survival, Indian education and Indian economic development.  Please read more about this take over and educate your friends. 

T-shirt shown will be released Saturday, Aug. 26th. It is a Steven Paul Judd collaboration and only 100 will be available. 

If you have a little over 20 minutes, watch the documentary below about the takeover. "We Hold the Rock." 

Aaron Silva3 Comments