Indian America

"We Will Not Give Up!"

Indian Occupiers moments after their removal from Alcatraz Island on June 11, 1971.

Left: Oohosis, a Cree from Canada

Right: Peggy Lee Ellenwood, a Sioux from Wolf Point, Montana

Defiant Young Alcatraz Occupiers

Indian occupiers moments after the removal
from Alcatraz Island on June 11, 1971.

They are (from left): Harold Patty, a Paiute from Nevada; Oohosis, a Cree from Canada; Peggy Lee Ellenwood, a Sioux from Wolf Point, Montana; Sandy Berger, from Fort Hall, Idaho.

The Proclamation

The Proclamation was a humorous tongue-in-cheek statement by the local Bay Area Indian community stating why the poor conditions of the island were perfectly suitable for Indians. The bleak and rugged conditions of ‘The Rock’ were strikingly like those on reservations. May 30, 1970.

The Proclamation (Detail)

Alcatraz the Island

Alcatraz Island, Califoria May 30, 1970

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Indian Property

Newly arriving Indian Occupiers were greeted by this sign when they were approaching the island.

May 30, 1970.

Alcatraz: Indian Property

Indian Property - Burned out lighthouse and warden's building.

Newly arriving Indian Occupiers were greeted by this sign when they were approaching Alcatraz Island. May 30, 1970.

Signs at the Alcatraz Landing

The approach to Alcatraz island.

May 31, 1970.

Signs at the Alcatraz Landing • 2

Signs on dock seen when nearing Alcatraz.

May 30, 1970

Signs at the Alcatraz Landing • Detail

Signs on Alcatraz dock (detail).

Left to right:

WELCOME INDIANS OF ALL TRIBES;

HUMAN RIGHTS FREE INDIANS;

COAST GUARD KEEP OFF ALCATRAZ;

RED POWER TO THE INDIANS;

CHICANO SUPPORT TO THE INDIANS;

HUMAN RIGHTS FREE INDIANS;

REMEMBER, THIS LAND WAS TAKEN FROM US;

ALCATRAZ FOR THE INDIANS

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Barbed Wire on Alcatraz

A prisoner's and an Indian Occupier's view from the island.

May 30, 1970

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Occupiers on the Dock Landing

Indian occupiers of Alcatraz waiting to greet new arrivals to the island.

Alcatraz Island, March, 1971.

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Alcatraz Cell Block

The main cell block.

May 30, 1970

The Main Cell Block

The main cell block.

Alcatraz Island, CA May 30, 1970

Boys in Alcatraz Cell Block

Two boys in the main cellblock.

MAay 30, 1970

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Exuberant Occupier

Exuberant Occupier (left) and Gino (right).

Alcatraz Island, California 1971

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Kids at Play on Alcatraz

Two Indian children play on abandoned Department of Justice equipment.

Alcatraz Island, 1970.

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Belva Cottier and a Young Friend

Belva Cottier and a young Chicano man during the Occupation of Alcatraz Island, May 30, 1970.

Waiting for the Ferry to Alcatraz

Native Americans and their supporters waiting for the ferry on the dock.

Alcatraz Island, May 1970

Waiting in the Fog

Waiting for the boat in the fog.

Alcatraz Island, May, 1970

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On the Way to Alcatraz

Alcatraz occupier on his way to Alcatraz.
San Francisco, Mainland, March, 1971

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Sioux Woman on Alcatraz

The fog comes in over Alcatraz. An Indian woman walks toward the Ira Hayes House on the lower level of the island. On her jacket is says "Alcatraz Sioux".

Alcatraz Island, May, 1970

Eldy Bratt

Eldy Bratt
Alcatraz Island, May 1970

Indian Girl with Bicycle

Indian girl with her bicycle.
Alcatraz Island, May, 1970

Sunshine on Alcatraz

William Lope (Pit River/Pomo) and a playmate run into the sunshine.

Alcatraz Island, May 1970

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At the Depot

A group of Indian people at Pier 40 following the June 11, 1971 removal from Alcatraz.
(John Trudell, wearing hat, to the far right of picture)

San Francisco, California.

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Group of occupiers in front of the Alcatraz Receiving Depot shortly after their removal from the island. (John Trudell, wearing hat, to the far right of picture)

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

Alcatraz Receiving Depot

An Indian man arrives at Pier 40 on the mainland following the removal in June 1971. Indians of All Tribes operated a receiving facility on Pier 40, where donated materials were stored and where Indian people could wait for boats to transport them to Alcatraz Island.

Arriving on the Mainland

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

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A young Alcatraz occupier and a supporter at the Receiving Depot shortly after the removal of the 16 final remaining Indians from the island.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

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Lending Support

A young supporter of the Indian Occupiers at the Alcatraz Receiving Depot.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

Sitting at the Depot

Atha Whitemankiller at the Depot

Atha Rider Whitemankiller at the Alcatraz Receiving Depot after the removal of the Indian Occupiers from Alcatraz.

Whitemankiller was a courageous and eloquent speaker to the press that day. His face reflects the disappointment felt by those who occupied the island for nineteen months but lost the final battle.

June 11, 1971

Atha Whitemankiller

Atha Whitemankiller at the Alcatraz Receiving Depot.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

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The Senator Hotel

News crews arriving at the Senator Hotel to interview the newly displaced Alcatraz occupiers.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

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Oohosis at the Senator Hotel

Atha Whitemankiller Speaking at the Senator Hotel

Overcoming exhaustion and disillusionment, young Alcatraz Occupier Atha Rider Whitemankiller (Cherokee) stands tall before the press at the Senator Hotel. His eloquent words about the purpose of the occupation - to publicize his people's plight and establish a land base for the Indians of the Bay Area - were the most quoted of the day.

June 11, San Francisco, California

John Trudell Being Interviewed at the Senator Hotel

John Trudell after the removal of the Indians from Alcatraz Island speaking to the press at
the Senator Hotel in San Francisco. June 11, 1971

John Trudell at the Senator Hotel

John Trudell speaking at the Senator Hotel after the removal of the Indians from Alcatraz.
San Francisco, June 11, 1971.

An Occupier Being Interviewed

Amid the bright lights, and under scrutiny of looming Federal Marshalls, an Alcatraz Occupier maintains poise while being interviewed at the Senator Hotel following the Indian removal from Alcatraz.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

An Occupier at the Senator Hotel

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

John Trudell Outside of the Senator Hotel

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

Atha Whitemankiller Doorway Intervirew

Atha Whitemankiller being interviewed at the Senator Hotel.

San Francisco, CA June 11, 1971

Hoka Hay !!

This poster, created overnight, appeared in Berkeley on June 12, 1971, the day after the removal of the Indians from Alcatraz. “Hoka Hay” is a battle cry used by the Lakota people of the Sioux tribes. It means: “To live life in such a way that one has done all that one should upon oneʼs last day, so it is indeed a good day to die.”