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This video above shows the treaty the Indians of All Tribes organization had to say to the public and President Nixon.

Richard Oakes played a pivotal role as the leader of the Alcatraz Occupation, collaborating with fellow Native Americans in their collective endeavor to reclaim Alcatraz Island.

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Richard Oakes delivering the Alcatraz Proclamation (1969) - from THE EDUCATION ARCHIVE

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Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner, photographer Eddie Murphy. Original photo negative in Kent Blansett Private Collection.

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November 20, 1969, Yvonne Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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November 20, 1969, Yvonne Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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On Alcatraz Island, Yvonne Oakes was ten years old on November 20, 1969. Yvonne was Richard Oakes's stepdaughter.

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Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner, photographer Eddie Murphy. Original photo negative in Kent Blansett Private Collection.

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November 20, 1969, Annie and Yvonne Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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November 20, 1969, Annie and Yvonne Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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Annie is leading Yvonne with one hand and carrying a poster of Geronimo in her other hand, a poster that was featured in several prominent occupation press photos. This mother-and-daughter relationship during this event changed how others view Native Americans.

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Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner, photographer Eddie Murphy. Original photo negative in Kent Blansett Private Collection.

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November 20, 1969, Richard Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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November 20, 1969, Richard Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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This photo has been made available to the public.

Richard Oakes supported a diverse coalition that sought to reclaim ancestral lands but sparked a broader cultural and political awakening. He left a mark on Native American rights and paving the future.

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Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner and Sara Glines, photographer Paul Glines. Original photo negative in Kent Blansett Private Collection.

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November 25, 1969, from left to right: Thomas Hannon, Ross Harden, Tanya Oakes, and Richard Oakes

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November 25, 1969, from left to right: Thomas Hannon, Ross Harden, Tanya Oakes, and Richard Oakes

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Left to right: an unidentified individual, Thomas Hannon, Ross Harden, Tanya Oakes, and Richard Oakes. Tanya is standing next to her father.

On Alcatraz Island days before Thanksgiving Day. The celebration was going to bring more people. Because of the national media attention has gotten.

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Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner and Sara Glines, photographer Paul Glines. Original photo negative in Kent Blansett Private Collection.

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November 25, 1969, from left to right: Annie Oakes, Yvonne Oakes, with short hair, standing with her arms around her little brother Leonard Oakes, and Tanya Oakes

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November 25, 1969, from left to right: Annie Oakes, Yvonne Oakes, with short hair, standing with her arms around her little brother Leonard Oakes, and Tanya Oakes

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Explanation of the topic:

It is both a privilege and a responsibility to narrate the compelling tale of the Alcatraz Occupation spanning from 1969 to 1971--a community woven with the threads of a community reclaiming its cultural heritage. This historical account encapsulates the journey of Native American individuals uniting to reclaim their ancestral land. Throughout ninety months, this resilient group courageously fought to protect their territory and assert their right to self-determination. Richard Oakes emerged as a leader in this cause but it was not without the support of others, including his wife Annie Oakes, Eldy Bratt (a friend of the Oakes family), LaNada Means (a student), Adam Nordwall, Cecil Poole, John Trudell, and numerous others. The initial struggles detailed in this narrative laid the foundation for subsequent events in the Red Power Movement, marking a crucial chapter in the ongoing fight for indigenous rights.  In the history of Native American activism, the Alcatraz Occupation of 1969-1971 stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of indigenous communities. The Alcatraz Occupation emerged as a response to these injustices, with Richard Oakes and fellow activists strategically seizing the island to assert their rights and reclaim their identity. The detailed account of events, from the proclamation on Alcatraz Island to the community's endeavors in creating a facility that addressed educational deficiencies, showcases the resilience and communal spirit of the indigenous people. President Nixon's acknowledgment of the need for a new direction in Indian policy and the subsequent return of land to various tribes marked significant victories for the community. (256)

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November 25, 1969, Richard and Joseph Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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November 25, 1969, Richard and Joseph Oakes on Alcatraz Island

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Is it in the South, North, East, or West?

It is West, in California State, but north of San Francisco.

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November 26, 1969, Indians of All Tribes Mock Trial

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November 26, 1969, Indians of All Tribes Mock Trial

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Indians of All Tribes Mock Trail featuring Shoshone/Paiute citizen Tom Joseph from UCLA serving as a judge. Richard Oakes is on the witness stand being interrogated by Joe Bill. Also shown are the original Indians of All Tribes flag with the symbol of the occupation, a broken pipe over a lodge.

The trial was "Indians versus the United States government (Kent 145)."

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images, Bettmann Collection 640119072. Kent pg. 238

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November 28, 1969, A press photo of Richard Oakes

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November 28, 1969, A press photo of Richard Oakes

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On Alcatraz Island, November 28, 1969, he made a public request to negotiate directly with either Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel or President Richard Nixon for proper title to the island.

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Why would it matter to understand the location of this information?

On Alcatraz Island between 1969 and 1971, for ninety months, the Indians of All Tribes constructed a civilization for the Native Americans. The location holds significance for the native people, as it was once their cultivation ground.

Is it an industrial area, agricultural, etc.?

Although Alcatraz Island is now a rock, it was once a sustainable community in the distant past. Native people inhabited the island, cultivating food, constructing shelters, and adapting to the environment.

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LaNada would be the primary Native student organizer on the Berkeley campus and was later a co-coordinator with Richard Oakes of the Alcatraz takeover in 1969.

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In November 1989, Activists occupied the main cell block.

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In November 1989, Activists occupied the main cell block.

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December 1, 1969, Richard Oakes meeting with U.S. attorney Cecil Poole.

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December 1, 1969, Richard Oakes meeting with U.S. attorney Cecil Poole.

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U.S. attorney Cecil Poole (who also negotiated with the 1964 Lakota occupiers) on Alcatraz Island. Left to right: Richard Oakes, John Hart (Alcatraz Island caretaker), Anthony Garcia, and Cecil Poole; the remaining four individuals are unidentified.

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December 8, 1969, Richard and Annie Oakes

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December 8, 1969, Richard and Annie Oakes

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On Alcatraz Island, Richard and Annie stand together with the iconic lighthouse in the background.

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images, Bettmann Collection 514678430

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IAT press conference on Alcatraz Island in the photo from left to right: Richard Oakes, Earl Livermore, Al Miller, and Vine Deloria Jr., who is in the background next to the IAT Christmas tree.

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On January 8, 1970, Yvonne Oakes died in an accident in one of the abandoned buildings on the island. This led Richard Oakes to not return to Alcatraz Island.

"On January 8, 1970, Yvonne Rose Oakes, having struggled for five days, passed away under the tearful watch of her family (Kent 164)."

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February 6, 1970, A teepee on Alcatraz Island.

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February 6, 1970, A teepee on Alcatraz Island.

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Under the photo in the textbook by Kent Blansett, it reads: "A teepee is erected on Alcatraz Island to symbolize the claim to native lands during the Native American occupation of the island in November 1969. A group called the Indians of All Tribes occupied the island until 1971."

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Photo taken by Guy Stilson and Greg Stilson

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February 1970, LaNada Means on the cover of Ramparts.

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February 1970, LaNada Means on the cover of Ramparts.

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Means on the February 1970 cover of Ramparts, the leading underground magazine in America, published from 1962 to 1975.

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The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took over in Alameda, California. Here, Richard Oakes, wearing his San Francisco State College sweatshirt, and twelve unidentified supporters surrender to local authorities. All occupiers were charged with trespass for staging a sit-in at a government office.

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Eldy Bratt, a Quechua/Aymara citizen, on Alcatraz Island. The Bratt and Oakes families remained close friends before and well after the occupation of Alcatraz Island. In addition to participation in the Alcatraz Island takeover, Eldy later participated in the 1970 Puyallup Encampment.

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Photo © Art Kane courtesy Art Kane Archive.

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This is the only posed photo from the occupation. It was taken by Art Kane and appeared in the June 2, 1970, issue of Look Magazine. The identified occupiers in the front row, left to right, are John Trudell, Tara Trudell, Annie Oakes, Richard Oakes, Stella Leach, Ray Spang, and Ross Harden. Peeking out behind Ray Spang is Joe Morris, and seated behind Richard and Stella Leach is Luwana Quitiquit.

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images, Bettmann Collection 640119160

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June 25, 1970, Richard Oakes at the San Francisco General Hospital.

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June 25, 1970, Richard Oakes at the San Francisco General Hospital.

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From left to right: Annie Oakes, Peter Mitten, and Mad Bear Anderson.

Oakes arrived at San Francisco General Hospital and reported pushing through a crowd of photographers. He was found brutally injured, with doctors discovering a skull fracture and blood clots to the brain, necessitating immediate surgery. Despite the challenging road ahead, Oakes survived the operation but lapsed into a coma for seven months before ultimately recovering and regaining his health.

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Photo courtesy of Stephen K. Lehmer/www.stephenlehmer.com.

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Several Months Richard Oakes was released from the hospital.

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Several Months Richard Oakes was released from the hospital.

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The swelling from his surgery is still visible on his face.

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John Trudell watches a fire consume the lighthouse and other buildings.

"John Trudell, a young Santee citizen residing in Los Angeles, attentively and extensively listened to Oakes as he discussed the goals, objectives, and history of the occupation (Coco)."

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June 11, 1971, The Alcatraz Occupation ended.

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June 11, 1971, The Alcatraz Occupation ended.

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In conclusion, the Alcatraz Occupation remains a pivotal chapter in Native American activism, symbolizing resilience, unity, and the ongoing pursuit of justice within indigenous communities. The narrative of Richard Oakes and his contemporaries serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fought for their rights, cultural identity, and a better future.

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September 20th, 1972, Richard Oakes was shot.

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September 20th, 1972, Richard Oakes was shot.

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"Ohlson returned after 5:00 p.m. on his way to work in Healdsburg. Ohlson saw a body covered by a blanket and two men walking away. He continued to drive on, not knowing that it was Richard (Kent 258)."

"When Robert Vollmer testified as a technician for the sheriff’s department, he used drawings and photographs to demonstrate the distances separating Morgan, Oakes,

and the redwood tree (Kent 259)."

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issue of The Press Democrat published out of Santa Rosa, California. Photo courtesy of The PressDemocrat.

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February 22, 1973, Michael Oliver Morgan

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February 22, 1973, Michael Oliver Morgan

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Michael Oliver Morgan and Defense Attorney Richard Pawson walked into the courtroom for the trial.