Indian Occupation 1969-1971

Indian Occupation 1969-1971. . , In 1969, six years after the penitentiary closed, a group of American Indians claimed Alcatraz for "Indians of All Tribes." For almost 19 months they occupied the island to call attention to the plight of Native Americans and make a stand for native peoples' fundamental right to their cultural identities., The occupiers hoped to establish several institutions on Alcatraz. Their vision included a center for American Indian studies, a job training school, a spiritual center, an ecology center, and a museum., The occupiers did not achieve their goals for Alcatraz: However, the occupation of the island was a historical turning point for American Indians across the country. Public sympathy generated by the occupation played a key role in ending the U.S. government's policy of terminating tribal governments, and the relocation of Indians from their reservation lands and communities. This led to an official government policy recognizing tribal self-rule, which protects Indian lands, languages, culture, and identity.