Cultural Preservation

November 20, 1969. That day marked the beginning of the Occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes, a key milestone in the history of the island, our country, and the broader Native American civil rights movement.

Watch this televised special to learn about the parks’ strong foundations and bright future welcoming all who want to bask in their beauty. Or watch just to enjoy some of that beauty from afar!

On Nov. 20, 1969,  a group of Native Americans set up camp on Alcatraz Island in nonviolent protest, claiming it as Indian Land under the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868). Eloy Martinez was one of them. 

At daybreak on Indigenous People’s Day 2019, in commemoration of 50th anniversary of the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz, the Bay Area indigenous community hosted the first-ever canoe trip around the island. Starting from the Aquatic Park Historic District, the flotilla of canoes were powered by communities and families from across the West Coast. Each canoe and person therein carried forward the legacy of the Occupation for a new generation.

The indigenous Ohlone people were the first to live, steward, and walk in the coastal hills and scrubland of San Mateo County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Read about the legacy of their stewardship and the evolving relationship between indigenous people and the parks.

Standing at Fort Point, surrounded by these totems, was a reminder of our weekly community volunteer programs where we are hoping to create a space to honor native people, and all the migrant cultures that represent the Bay Area.