The Government and the Indians: The American Indian Occupation of Alcatraz Island, 1969-1971

Abstract

Alcatraz, a twenty-two-and-one-half-acre island situated in the bay between San Francisco and Sausalito, California, became an issue to American Indians in November 1969 when a group of Indians landed at the vacant federal penitentiary and claimed title to the island under the doctrine of “right of discovery.” On Sunday afternoon, 9 November 1969, fifty American Indians circled Alcatraz twice on a borrowed Canadian clipper ship, the Monte Cristo. Five men dove off and swam to Alcatraz Island to claim it. Originally, seventy-five Indians had planned to land on the island from five pleasure boats, but the plan failed when the armada did not show up. Richard Oakes got the urge to dive into the water from the Monte Cristo, and the other four followed. Walter Hatch was unable to finish the difficult swim, but the others made it to shore. When they emerged from the water, they were greeted by island employee Glen Dodson, who asked them to leave; they left ten minutes later. That same evening, the same four Indians, plus ten more, returned to Alcatraz on the Butchie Bee and landed around 6:00