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camp manager. Oakes reportedly confronted him, and Morgan alleged he was in fear for his life, and responded by drawing a handgun and fatally shooting Oakes. Oakes was unarmed when he was shot. Morgan was charged with voluntary manslaughter, but was acquitted by a jury that agreed with Morgan that
305:
Many other
Nations had already attempted to circle the island in boats but all were unsuccessful. When boats stopped during their course, Oakes chose to swim through the rest of the Bay and directly took control of the island. Indigenous Americans of various Nations joined Oakes and staged the
40:
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Oakes had control of the island from the very beginning, with an organizational council put into effect immediately. Everyone had a job, including security, sanitation, day care, schooling, cooking, and laundry. All decisions were made by the unanimous consent of the people.
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The occupiers proclaimed their purpose as "To better the lives of all Indian people" by making "known to the world that we have a right to use our land for our own benefit" through reclaiming
Alcatraz "in the name of all American Indians by right of discovery."
256:. In the spring of 1969, Oakes met the members of the White Roots of Peace, who encouraged him to take a stand and fight for what he believed in. Oakes had also gained the support of many students. He went on to play an integral role in the
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358:. Oakes also planned to create a "mobile university" dedicated to creating opportunity for Native Americans, but this never came to fruition. As a result of his activism, he endured tear gas, billy clubs, and brief stints in jail.
196:, the US portion of a reservation that spills into Canada across the St. Lawrence River. Like many of his ancestors, Oakes spent most of his childhood fishing and planting beans. He then began working at a local dock area on the
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Conflicts over leadership and the influx of non-indigenous
Americans diminished the important stance of the original occupants. In June 1971 the United States government removed the remaining 15 occupants from the island.
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the killing was an act of self-defense. Oakes supporters contend the shooting was an act of murder, and that Morgan received support from a racially motivated jury and district attorney. Oakes was 30 years old.
326:
In 1970 the island began to fall into disarray. On
January 5, 1970, Oakes' 12-year-old adopted daughter, Yvonne, fell to her death onto concrete steps. After her funeral, Oakes and Marrufo left the island.
334:
While Oakes and his followers did not succeed in obtaining the island, they did affect U.S. policy and the treatment of
Indians. As a result of the occupation, the official U.S. government policy of
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The historic occupation was made up initially of young indigenous college students from around San
Francisco and UCLA. Oakes was considered a noted activist during the occupation according to
220:. They had one son, Bryan Oakes, who was born in June 1968. Pressured out of his marriage by his father-in-law, Richard left the two, divorcing his wife, and traveled west. He reached
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dedicated their new
Multicultural Center after their former student. His student-led occupation led to the establishment of an American Indian Studies Department at SFSU.
248:
departments in the nation. He developed the initial curriculum and encouraged other Native
Americans to enroll at San Francisco State University. At the same time, the
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Peter
Matthiessen, "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: The Story of Leonard Peltier and the FBI's War on the American Indian Movement".NY; Penguin Books, 2001.
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Richard
Standing Tall Oakes JR., Yvonne Little Fawn Oakes, Joseph Oakes, Leonard Oakes, Rocky Oakes, Yvonne Oakes, Tanya Oakes
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was forming and traveling in troupes to fight oppression of Mohawk religion by means of peaceful protest, which they called
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164:. He spurred Native American studies in university curricula and is credited for helping to change US federal government
189:
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Soon after Alcatraz, Oakes was shot and killed near Annapolis, California, in rural Sonoma County by Michael Morgan, a
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Oakes was disappointed with the classes offered at SF State and went on to work with an anthropology professor, Dr.
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1041:"SFSU to name new Multicultural Center for former student Richard Oakes, who led the 1969 Takeover of Alcatraz"
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Peter Fimrite, "Occupation Of Alcatraz / 30-year anniversary of Indian coup". SF Chronicle, Nov 19, 1999
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https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Occupation-Of-Alcatraz-30-year-anniversary-of-2895929.php
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In 1969, Oakes led a group of students and urban Bay Area Native Americans in an occupation of
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746:"The Occupation of Alcatraz Island: Indian Self-Determination and the Rise of Indian Activism"
648:"Richard Oakes activist: How did he help Native American rights? Why did he occupy Alcatraz?"
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Delilah Friedler, "Before Standing Rock, There Was Alcatraz", Dissent Magazine, Jan 24, 2018
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of San Francisco, which brought him in contact with the local Native American communities.
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684:"Richard Oakes would have turned 75 today. This is what he did for Native American rights"
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In 2016 the artist Magneto Dayo and The Lakota Medicine Men paid tribute to Oakes,
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paid tribute to Oakes and his occupation of Alcatraz in the song "Taking Alcatraz."
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in their attempts to regain nearly 3 million acres of land that had been seized by
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of Native American peoples and culture. Oakes led a nineteen-month occupation of
1141:
843:"Richard Oakes, Who Occupied Alcatraz For Native Rights, Gets A Birthday Honor"
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is credited for opening a rediscovered unity among all Native American tribes.
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87:
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Journey to Freedom : Richard Oakes, Alcatraz, and the Red Power Movement
1013:
990:. "Indians Of All Tribes", (Peter Blue Cloud). (Berkeley) Wingbow Press, 1972
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https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/before-standing-rock-alcatraz-occupation
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176:, approximately 50 California State University students, and 37 others. The
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Journey to Freedom: Richard Oakes, Alcatraz, and the Red Power Movement
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715:"When Native American activists took control of Alcatraz for 18 months"
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After leaving Alcatraz, Oakes continued his resistance. He helped the
387:
200:, but was laid off at the age of sixteen, after which he worked as a
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longest occupation of a federal facility by Native American people.
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The Alcatraz Proclamation to the Great White Father and his People
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261:
260:. Also in 1969, he married Annie Marrufo, who was part of the
228:. While studying at SFSU, Oakes worked as a bartender in the
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Famous for changing the history of indigenous peoples' rights
1072:"Horoscope of Richard Oakes (activist), born on 1942/05/22"
1166:"Richard Oakes the Mohawk and his path to Alcatraz Island"
1142:
San Francisco Bay Area Television Archive: Alcatraz videos
428:, and others on a song called "The Journey" on the album
936:"Y.M.C.A. Aide is Acquitted in Slaying of Indian Leader"
1070:
Astrotheme, Brice Joly - Philippe Lepoivre de Vesle -.
560:"Richard Oakes: an activist for Native American rights"
216:, Oakes met and married an Italian/English woman from
1103:"Google honors Native American activist with doodle"
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302:students from the American Indian Studies Center.
236:Native American studies and occupation of Alcatraz
298:that would last until 1971. He also recruited 80
204:, a job that entailed a great deal of traveling.
878:. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 195.
439:to mark what would have been his 75th birthday.
435:On May 22, 2017, Oakes was recognized with a
338:was ended and replaced by a policy of Indian
8:
1137:SF State, Richard Oakes Multicultural Center
379:released a song about the occupation titled
386:In 1984, television stations broadcast the
188:Richard Oakes was born on May 22, 1942, in
16:Mohawk Native American activist (1942–1972)
823:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
280:Graffiti from the occupation, featuring a
154:(May 22, 1942 – September 20, 1972) was a
38:
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19:For other people with the same name, see
532:The Sixties in America Reference Library
1190:
1164:Kanentiio, Doug George (January 2010).
623:. Mohawk Nation News. January 3, 2014.
448:
1159:"Richard Oakes - His Path to Alcatraz"
836:
834:
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601:from the original on November 28, 2022
589:Contreras, Daisy (November 25, 2022).
1259:San Francisco State University alumni
1113:from the original on October 11, 2017
399:series. The ballet, choreographed by
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1082:from the original on August 24, 2017
713:Arbuckle, Alex (November 14, 2016).
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1000:Anderson, Jack (January 16, 1984).
744:Lookingbill, Brad (June 22, 1998).
1020:from the original on March 2, 2016
964:Historical Dictionary of the 1960s
627:from the original on March 5, 2014
535:. Gale Group. 2005. Archived from
14:
1146:Video:short Oakes interview @2:40
1051:from the original on July 9, 2016
875:Mankiller: A Chief and Her People
853:from the original on May 22, 2017
725:from the original on May 23, 2017
694:from the original on May 22, 2017
660:from the original on May 22, 2017
570:from the original on May 22, 2017
463:from the original on May 18, 2018
1153:May 2010 History – Richard Oakes
1107:The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
192:, a location known in Mohawk as
1244:Deaths by firearm in California
967:. Greenwood Publishing Group.
459:. Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
408:San Francisco State University
403:, was inspired by Oakes' life.
226:San Francisco State University
21:Richard Oakes (disambiguation)
1:
1229:20th-century Native Americans
841:Dwyer, Colin (May 22, 2017).
750:The American Indian Quarterly
682:Worley, Will (May 22, 2017).
646:Worley, Will (May 22, 2017).
312:The American Indian Quarterly
244:, to create one of the first
214:Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge
961:Olson, James Stuart (1999).
346:After Alcatraz and his death
336:termination of Indian tribes
190:St. Regis Mohawk Reservation
1275:
457:"RootsWeb: Database Index"
356:Pacific Gas & Electric
287:
268:all five of her children.
18:
1249:Native American activists
1002:"TV: A BALLET ON INDIANS"
988:Alcatraz Is Not an Island
905:. Yale University Press.
872:Mankiller, Wilma (1993).
430:Royalty of the UnderWorld
224:and decided to enroll at
137:Annie Marrufo (1960-1972)
84:Sonoma County, California
37:
1202:. Yale University Press.
1170:News From Indian Country
488:January 7, 2021, at the
1254:Native American studies
1198:Blansett, Kent (2018).
899:Blansett, Kent (2018).
591:"By Right Of Discovery"
250:Mohawk National Council
246:Native American Studies
1239:American Mohawk people
799:, 1969, archived from
621:"white roots of peace"
391:Song for Dead Warriors
290:Occupation of Alcatraz
285:
258:Occupation of Alcatraz
208:Marriage and education
178:Occupation of Alcatraz
128:Occupation of Alcatraz
776:on November 17, 2018.
539:on November 14, 2018.
507:July 2, 2020, at the
279:
218:Bristol, Rhode Island
212:While working on the
284:greeting, "Yata Hey"
254:White Roots of Peace
166:termination policies
393:as part of the PBS
272:Alcatraz occupation
198:St. Lawrence Seaway
96:Cause of death
1076:www.astrotheme.com
1006:The New York Times
940:The New York Times
529:"Oakes, Richard".
413:In 2012, the band
375:In 1971, musician
340:self-determination
286:
76:September 20, 1972
1045:www.sfsu.edu/news
806:on April 11, 2016
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603:. Retrieved
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415:Field Report
394:
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377:Leon Russell
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264:, and Oakes
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174:LaNada Means
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110:Akwesasronon
78:(1972-09-20)
57:May 22, 1942
25:
1224:1972 deaths
1219:1942 births
262:Pomo Nation
106:Nationality
1213:Categories
1117:August 23,
1086:August 23,
756:(3): 406.
595:Latino USA
564:Al Jazeera
444:References
381:"Alcatraz"
184:Early life
116:Occupation
88:California
53:1942-05-22
1234:Akwesasne
1014:0362-4331
406:In 1999,
194:Akwesasne
61:Akwesasne
1175:June 19,
1111:Archived
1080:Archived
1049:Archived
1018:Archived
851:Archived
819:citation
723:Archived
692:Archived
658:Archived
631:March 1,
625:Archived
599:Archived
568:Archived
505:Archived
486:Archived
467:March 1,
461:Archived
370:Tributes
162:activist
142:Children
119:Activist
65:New York
1024:May 22,
946:May 22,
857:May 22,
847:NPR.org
810:May 23,
770:1184828
729:May 22,
719:AOL.com
698:May 22,
664:May 22,
574:May 22,
266:adopted
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388:ballet
282:Navajo
156:Mohawk
134:Spouse
90:, U.S.
67:, U.S.
804:(PDF)
793:(PDF)
766:JSTOR
172:with
1177:2011
1119:2017
1088:2017
1057:2018
1026:2017
1010:ISSN
969:ISBN
948:2017
907:ISBN
880:ISBN
859:2017
825:link
812:2017
731:2017
700:2017
666:2017
633:2014
607:2022
576:2017
469:2014
363:YMCA
300:UCLA
73:Died
47:Born
758:doi
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