Richard Oakes (activist)
| Richard Oakes | |
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| Born | May 22, 1942 |
| Died | September 20, 1972 (aged 30) Sonoma, California |
| Nationality | Mohawk Nation |
| Known for | Occupation of Alcatraz |
Richard Oakes (May 22, 1942 – September 20, 1972)[1] was a Mohawk Native American activist who promoted the fundamental idea that Native peoples have a right to sovereignty, justice, respect and control over their own destinies. His legacy reflects the struggles of Native peoples and all people to maintain their land, identity, and lifeways.
Oakes played an integral part in creating one of the first Native American studies departments in the nation. He developed the initial curriculum and encouraged other American Indians to enroll at San Francisco State University.
As a Mohawk Indian, Oakes was a strong supporter of Native American rights. He believed that Native American people have a right to their land and identity and that they deserve respect, justice and control.
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[edit] Alcatraz occupation
In 1969, Oakes led a group of students and urban Bay Area Indians in an occupation of Alcatraz Island that would last until 1971. He also recruited 80 UCLA students from the American Indian Studies Center.
Indians of various tribes joined Oakes and staged the longest occupation of a federal facility by Indian people.
The historic occupation was made up initially of young Indian college students. Described as a handsome, charismatic, talented, and natural leader, Oakes was identified as "chief" of the island.
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.
The goals of the Indian inhabitants were to gain a deed to the island, establish an Indian university, cultural center, and museum.
In 1970 the island began to fall into disarray once Oakes' 13-year-old stepdaughter fell to her death. After the fatality, Oakes left the island, along with numerous students who went back to school.
Conflicts over leadership and the influx of non-Indians diminished the important stance of the original occupants.
In June 1971 the United States government removed the remaining 15 occupants from the island.
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 termination of Indian tribes was ended and replaced by a policy of Indian self-determination.
[edit] After Alcatraz
Shortly after leaving Alcatraz, Richard was injured in a fight, having been hit in the head with a pool cue. In a coma for over 30 days, all hope for his recovery was nearly lost. Friends credit the appearance of his mentor Wallace Mad Bear Anderson of the Iroquois Confederacy, and spiritual leader, with bringing him back to life.
Soon after that, however, Oakes was shot and killed by a man named Michael Morgan, a YMCA camp manager. Morgan had a reputation for being rough with Indian kids, and apparently did so again in Oakes' presence. Oakes reportedly confronted him, and Morgan responded by drawing a handgun and fatally shooting him. Morgan was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Six months later, charges against Morgan were dropped on the grounds that Oakes had moved aggressively toward him. [2] Oakes died September 20, 1972 in Sonoma, California at the age of 30.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
- ^ Olson, James Stuart (1999). Historical dictionary of the 1960s. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 031329271X. http://books.google.com/books?id=X7KG3GgZUHoC&pg=PA348.
- ^ Alcatraz Is Not an Island. "Indians Of All Tribes", (Peter Blue Cloud). (Berkeley) Wingbow Press, 1972
- Kanentiio, Doug George (Jan. 2010). "Richard Oakes the Mohawk and his path to Alcatraz Island". News From Indian Country. http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8219&Itemid=56. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
[edit] External links
- Alcatraz National Park, We Hold the Rock
- SF State, Richard Oakes Multicultural Center
- SF State, Heroes
- San Francisco Bay Area Television Archive: Alcatraz videos. Video:short Oakes interview @2:40
- Native Circle, May 2010 History – Richard Oakes
- ABC-CLIO, Occupation of Alcatraz Island
- PBS, Alcatraz is Not an Island
