Occupation of Alcatraz Collection.
Showing 43 items.
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KQED news report from Alcatraz on December 10th 1969 featuring a conference with government officials, during which protesters share their concerns about how federal organizations deal with American Indians. Activists, including Stella Leach, are invited to review the current situation in a series of interviews. Kim Robertson (chairman of the visiting officials) comments that: “I know we all seriously would like to do something special for Indians. I think we all have recognized that our preoccupation with the black problem, with the brown problem … perhaps the red problem may have been overlooked.”
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KQED news report on August 25th 1969 from a press conference featuring an architect and a public official, discussing plans for the development of Alcatraz Island. The public official mentions the Federal government has declared buildings on the island to be surplus and if the City of San Francisco doesn’t assume responsibility for them, they will be offered to private bidders. He explains that: “It has been inherent in my proposal … that this property never leave the public domain. It is too unique a position.” Ironically this statement is made just three months before the American Indian occupation of the island begins. The architect details his plans for the island using maps and models, reminding us that Alcatraz is very small and “would fit inside Aquatic Park!” He also declares that: “If San Francisco doesn’t accept this island, then Joe Doakes can buy it!”
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KPIX's Don Knapp reports from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, on December 22nd 1969. There are views of American Indians dancing dressed in native costume and an activist is interviewed, explaining they have come to San Francisco not just to demonstrate but also to: "Claim Alcatraz Island for all the natives in this land."
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KQED news report from Alcatraz on November 24th 1969, featuring views of the occupying Indians and interviews with spokesmen at Fisherman's Wharf. Richard Oakes tells reporters: "There's a dual sense of justice in this country. We'd like an end to this. And I think this here - manning the island of Alcatraz - is a positive step in that direction. If they're gonna treat us separately, then we'll remain separately." Also see KQN 516 for similar scenes shot by camera crews on the same day.
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KQED news report from June 14th 1971 featuring a press conference held by Federal authorities, following their removal of American Indian activists from Alcatraz. A government spokesman claims their intervention was provoked by a statement from the Indian's attorney a few days earlier: "We recieved the word that in the event the government would not immediately present to them some proposal, giving them either use or title to the island, that they were prepared to (quote) 'do something' (unquote), in respect to the island."
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KPIX news report from a U.S. Airforce base on December 23rd 1970, where food and supplies for American Indians in California are seen being loaded onto a cargo plane. Also features (silent) views of protesters stood outside an Air West building carrying signs that read: "Our Indians need homes not ITCC" and "We need homes not Xmas toys."
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KQED news report from a Nike missile site in San Pablo on June 14th 1971, where American Indian activists have just initiated another occupation of land, following their removal from Alcatraz. Features inteviews with a local law enforcement officer and Indian spokesman John Trudell, who explains: "To put it mildly, we're pretty upset about how the government handled the Alcatraz situation ... We want to be left alone but we want the right to guide our own lives. We don't believe in the Great White Father. it's a myth." Trudell goes on to give his own detailed account of their behind the scenes negotiations with Federal authorities over Alcatraz Island.
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KQED news report on the American Indian occupation of Alcatraz from June 16th 1970, featuring brief extracts of the news team arriving and taking a motorboat ride around the island. There are excellent panning shots from the top of Alcatraz and detailed tracking shots of buildings on the island, including the prison block.
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KQED news report from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco on June 8th 1970, featuring interviews with a ferry boat operator, John Trudell and tourists who have just paid $5 to take a trip across to the island. Trudell also discusses the recent fires on Alcatraz, explaining that no one there knows how they started.
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KPIX's Jay Newburn reports from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, where the vessel Sea Rogue is shown being used to ferry people to and from the occupied island of Alcatraz. Newburn interviews Harvey Wells, who has led a group of American Indians from Los Angeles to support the occupation. Wells declares that: "We're taking our cue from direct action and other movements throughout the world we've observed and we've decided it's time for us to govern the destiny of our people ... We're waiting for the rebirth of a new nation of Indians and the dawning of a new day for our people."
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KPIX news report from a press conference held by Hopi Indian representatives on May 14th 1971, who are bringing a law suit against the strip mining of land near their reservation in the Four Corners region. David Monongye states: "I was very glad to learn that many people had responded to our cause ... I hope something will come out of it, so that we may not destroy our mother Earth ... We do not want our mother to be destroyed."
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KPIX news report from January 15th 1970 featuring excerpts from two press conferences, in which an American Indian spokesman declares, in regard to negotiations with the Federal government, that: "We're going to have to sit down with somebody and tell them what we want. But when we do this, we want them to do something about it." Ends with a government representative explaining their official criteria to determine a failure to report "welfare fraud."
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KPIX news report from Pier 40 in San Francisco about a group of American Indians who are fighting to retain fishing rights, on October 12th 1970. Ed Arnow interviews Al Bridges who explains they are selling their fish in San Francisco to help support a camp in Washington state and to provide funds for the American Indian Association. Bridges also states: "What we want is to ... regain and retain our treaty rights." Features scenes of locals purchasing fish from the Indians.
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KPIX's Ben Williams reports from an army communications camp seven miles West of Davis on November 4th 1970, where a group of American Indians is continuing its recent occupation of land. An Indian spokesman confirms there has been no official reaction yet to their presence and agrees with the assessment of a reporter who comments: "It's been a pretty friendly take over so far."
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KPIX news report from Alcatraz on 10th November 1969, where a group of American Indians have just spent a night staking their claim to ownership of the island. They are interviewed and a young man describes his experience of touring the derelict prison facility, declaring: “This is a monument of a sick society. It’s really sick. People have to be sick to put up something like this!” Another agrees with him, continuing: “We’re going to change it into its opposite … a monument to Indian people.” There are views of reporters and federal authorities walking around the island and then gathering to witness Richard Oakes reading a proclamation to federal official Mr Hammon: “We the Native Americans reclaim this land known as Alcatraz Island in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery. We wish to be fair and honorable in our dealings with the Caucasian inhabitants of this land and hereby offer the following treaty. We will purchase said Alcatraz Island for $24 and glass beads and red cloth, a precedent set by the white man’s purchase of a similar island about 300 years ago.” After listening to Oakes, Hammon offers everyone a lift back to the mainland, which they accept.
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KPIX news report from an army communications camp 7 miles west of Davis on April 2nd 1971, opening with a brief glimpse of American Indians using a ladder to climb over a security gate. Mike Lee interviews an Indian spokeman who reflects that a: "Society that has systematically set out to destroy our ways is only now coming to understand our people and our relationship with all living things." Features scenes from a peace pipe and land deed ceremonies, as the land is signed over for the establishment of DQ University. Also includes views of life in the temporary camp established by occupying Indians. Lee sums up the overall mood by refering to a quote from Victor Hugo, written on the official ceremonial program: "Nothing can withstand the force of an idea whose time has come."
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KPIX news report opening with a brief glimpse of American Indians - including Richard Oakes - meeting with representatives at the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), on March 23rd 1970. KPIX's Jay Newburn interviews activist Harvey Wells who claims that they represent a united Indian nation, who want recognition as one "nationalistic body," so they may govern their own affairs. He goes on to declare: "We want to industrialize the reservations and have our people pushed into professional careers and management positions ... so that economically we can rise as individuals also."
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KPIX's Ben Williams reports from an army communications camp seven miles West of Davis on November 3rd 1970, where a group of American Indians have just initiated an occupation. Williams explains they are invoking the same 1868 treaty rights that the Indians on Alcatraz cited as legal grounds to claim surplus government land. He also interviews a spokesman for the group who declares: "We feel that we could use it [the land] for a better purpose ... than UC Davis would for their rice paddies and their monkey center." Ends with reporters trying to interview a reluctant army Colonel, as he assesses the developing situation.
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KPIX news report from a Nike missile site in San Pablo on June 14th 1971, where American Indian activists have just initiated another occupation of land, following their removal from Alcatraz. Features inteviews with a local law enforcement officer and Indian spokesman John Trudell, who informs the press: "This is happening because the government did what they did on Alcatraz. We haven't forgotten. If the government would've made some kind of honorable settlement there and wouldn't have lied to us, this wouldn't be necessary here right now."
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KPIX's Belva Davis reports from Alcatraz on June 11th 1971, where American Indian activists have just been removed from the island by armed Federal authorities. Includes extensive views of Alcatraz, a press conference held by Federal representatives and interviews with the Indians, who describe first hand accounts of their arrest. When asked by a reporter to verify if the government's claim they were forced to intervene because of the theft of copper wire and to repair the lighthouse is true, John Trudell replies: "We were negotiating with the government on the quiet and the meetings started April 13th of this year. And they guaranteed us during these meetings that there would be no arrests and no one would be taken off the island ... until negotiations were completed. And they broke their word on it."
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KPIX's Belva Davis reports from Alcatraz on June 11th 1971, where American Indian activists have just been removed from the island by armed Federal authorities. Includes views of the island and of activists under protective custody being escorted off a bus in the city. A government representative justifies their actions by stating the occupation: "Was an intolerable situation that could not go on indefinitely." At a separate meeting Indian spokesman John Trudell argues: "The significant thing that's been accomplished by Alcatraz is ... we never sold ourselves out. We never compromised. We went for the whole cup cake ... We're bringing people to our side. There's a lotta Indians aren't gonna like this." When asked by a reporter if the Indians will now finally accept "defeat," Trudell laughs and exclaims: "Defeat! No man, there's no such thing as defeat. You know. When they start kickin you around you just gotta learn to bandage up the bruises and stand up again. They didn't beat us."
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KPIX news report from a press conference held on September 4th 1970, in which a reporter poses the question to DHEW Regional Director Robert Coop: "Do you think you can solve the problems of the Bay Area Indians and leave out the problem of Alcatraz?" Coop replies: "I think Alcatraz is a national situation ... And if we get involved in that kind of a question, we're not going to be able to respond to the problems that they've got today on Mission Street or anywhere else." There are also views of an agreement being signed.
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KPIX news report from a press conference outside the Mission Area Community Action Center in San Francisco, on December 15th 1969. A spokesman points out, in support of the occupation of Alcatraz, that: "The American people … likes a problem which it can solve as easily as it can by letting the Indians have a piece of land which we haven't known any particular good use for anyway." Ends with another activist contending that the Federal government should be happy to turn over surplus land to the Indians, for the purpose of education and vocational training.
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KPIX's Ben Williams reports from Alcatraz Island on 29th November 1969, where support for the American indian occupation continues to grow. Features views of Fisherman's Wharf and also short interviews with Harvey Wells and Mrs Hart. Williams ends with a summary to camera: "The Indian invaders of Alcatraz are convinced their conquest is not a temporary one. Long range planning strategy is already being made and spokesmen say they're taking each day as it comes ... They say the next move is up to the American government."
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KQED news report from Alcatraz Island on November 26th 1969, featuring interviews with the occupying American Indians and excerpts of everyday life there. There is also an episode by the dock in which a U.S. Coastguard boat intercepts a vessel full of protesters, including a brief scuffle.
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KQED news report from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco on August 14th 1970 featuring an interview with John Trudell, who discusses the current lack of water and sanitation on Alcatraz. He also tries to explain the moral and political reasons why American Indians continue to occupy the island, in defiance of Federal paternalism. “We’re concerned about … people on the reservations that, that are being forced to assimilate or die out. We’re worried about things like our language and culture. We want this on our own terms … It’s part of us.”
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KQED news report from the first day of the American Indian occupation of Alcatraz (11/20/69), featuring views of the island taken from different circling boats. Signs are shown in close up which read: “Keep off Indian property” and “Red Power.” One of the news team asks Richard Oakes if the media is already over on the island and he confirms that they are.
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KPIX's Mike Lee interviews members of the Labor Department at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco on December 10th 1969, who are negotiating how to address the demands of American Indians occupying Alcatraz Island. Lee interviews Kim Robertson who explains how in relation to manpower administration programs, the Indians: "Want more of their own self selection ... They want a greater role in helping run programs." He also points out: "They're concerned about continuing and improving the American Studies program at San Francisco State."
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KPIX's Pat O'Brien reports from the Elem Pomo Indian occupation of Rattlesnake Island, at Clear Lake in Lake County (Northern California), on May 19th 1970. There are views of rowing over to the island and of the Pomo settlement there. Features an interview with a company representative (claiming ownership of the land) who states: "We think eventually that the island may have a significant developmental potential as basically a leisure community." Also includes an interview with a Pomo Indian spokesman, who explains the island: "Has always been our ... ancestral home ... I don't think we ever gave it up."
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KPIX news report from January 9th 1970, opening with brief views of buildings on Alcatraz Island and a glimpse inside the school run by occupying American Indians there. A spokeman for the Indians holds a press conference in which he describes legal restrictions being imposed on visitors to Alcatraz and explains that the Indians may take the step of having their organization officially incorporated, just so the Federal government will take them seriously during negotiations.
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KPIX news report from a press conference held by American Indian activist Lehman Brightman, on December 1st 1969. Brightman is challenging an attempt by the Economic Opportunity Council to force the Indian Center to consolidate two separate programs, which provide emergency funds for food and lodging. He declares: "We're sick and tired of these people trying to cram their ideas down our throats. Self determination is what we're ... asking for."
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KPIX's Ed Arnow reports from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco on June 26th 1970. He interviews Don Jelinek - attorney for the American Indians occupying Alcatraz - who explains they intend to bring a lawsuit against the Hartford Insurance Company, for refusing to grant marine insurance for the Bass-Tub vessel bringing supplies to the island. This will be pursued under the civil rights act, on the grounds that insurance is being denied because of political descrimination. Ends with Arnow interviewing Indian spokeswoman LaNada Means about living conditions on the island, who explains there are approximately 89 Indians remaining on Alcatraz: "We're going to hold out there as long as it takes to maintain our occupation."
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KPIX's Mike Lee interviews a group of American Indian medicine men on June 24th 1970, who describe how they visited activist Richard Oakes in hospital and successfully assisted with his recovery from a head wound. Ends with one of them explaining that: "The power is not within the medecine men, the power is within the creator. We work through the creator. We're only the tools of the creator. Without him, Indian medecine can't work."
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KPIX's Evan White reports from Pine Lake Park in San Francisco on November 15th 1970, where American Indians are holding an environment festival. An Indian spokesman explains: "We, as Indian people, still hold all of the land in California … The Bay is losing ground more and more and it's becoming a cesspool and if we don't save the Bay, the Bay is gonna kill all of us in revenge because of pollution." Also features scenes of crowds enjoying a display of traditional Indian dancing.
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KQED news report from November 20th 1969, featuring views of American Indians relaxing on Alcatraz Island and tourists circling the island in boats. There are a series of interviews with protesters who justify their occupation of the island. Dennis Turner replies to a query about the potential threat of federal force being used to evict them by asking: “How can anyone refuse you legal rights to your own property?”
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KPIX news report from December 2nd 1969, featuring a press conference in which Richard Oakes explains to the press that: "Alcatraz offers the insulation necessary for us to develop intellectually." The Federal representative Mr Hammon is seen refusing to accept that American Indians may occupy Alcatraz Island indefinitely and an Indian spokesman presents an argument in support of their treaty rights to appropriate surplus federal land.
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KPIX's Evan White reports from downtown San Francisco on March 25th 1971, where representatives of the Pit River Indians and Indians occupying Alcatraz are shown publicizing their land claims at PG&E and the Southern Pacific Railroad Building. White interviews several activists including John Trudell, who states: "We're serving notice on the tour boats. We don't want ... them ... bringing tourists close to the island, so that they can look at us ... It's not a zoo out there." A spokesman for the Pit River Indians comments on their reception at PG&E: "When I went to school, how did it go? We the people of the United States of America, so forth and so forth. Now it's we the big corporations of America. These are the people that control America. It's not we the people. This is why I think that we were met here today as we were with armed guards." Also features interviews with spokesmen for PG&E, the Southern Pacific Railroad and tour boat operators.
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KPIX's Mike Lee reports from Shasta County in north eastern California on June 24th 1970, where a group of Pit River Indians are occupying a PG&E employee's holiday camp, to reclaim ancestral land. Opens with silent views of a court house and the countryside, followed by a press conference with an Indian spokesman: "Our primary objective all along has been the U.S. government and that they - not PG&E - hold all of our land. And that if we're trying to get land back, we should be trying to get it back from the government."
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KPIX news report from Shasta County in north eastern California on June 5th 1970, where a PG&E employee's holiday camp has been occupied by a group of Pit River Indians, who claim ownership of the land. A spokesman for the Indians explains: "It has always been their land. This claim is buttressed by the decision of the Indian Claims Commission, which was set up to determine questions like this. And they did determine - I think in 1959 - that in the year 1853 all of this land was owned by the Pit River Indians. And it was illegally taken away by the adoption of a Federal statute."
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KPIX's Mike Lee reports from Burney Office Building in Shasta County, Northern California, on October 9th 1970. There are (silent) views of the surrounding countryside and inside the Office Building, where a group of Pit River Indians are on trial accused of trespassing on PG&E property. The Indian's attorney claims: "These defendents could not have committed a crime because they sincerely believe it is their land and they have no criminal intent." Another Indian spokesman goes on to describe how local corporations may be: "Willing to support us in our fight against the Federal government for return of lands."
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KPIX news report featuring an interview with a rock promoter on December 27th 1969, who describes how two shows at the Geary Theater in San Francisco will be staged to benefit American Indians occupying Alcatraz Island. One of the acts confirmed for the first show is Big Brother & the Holding Company. In a separate interview, an Indian spokesman outlines their intentions to apply for financial aid to support the occupation, stating: "The government of course has to kick in several million to help build up the island and retribute for what it's done to the Californian Indians here."
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KPIX news report featuring silent views of American Indian activists walking around the Nike Missile site they've recently occupied in San Pablo, on June 16th 1971. Includes scenes of supporters arriving with food and supplies.
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KQED news report from Alcatraz on November 25th 1970, featuring the unloading of supplies from a boat at the dock, which are then carried up to living quarters on a hand pulled cart. LaNada Means gives a press conference to announce that whilst the American Indians are celebrating Thanksgiving on Alcatraz tomorrow, they will not be accepting the gift of any food from white people. She places this declaration in a historical context of how the first white settlers came to celebrate Thanksgiving: “They can bring food to give to the island for the purpose of giving but not because of the reason that it has been for hundreds of years because we are no longer going to let them live a lie.”