OF ALL TRIBES

Alcatraz was not just a prison, but also a place where an idea became an Indigenous movement that persists today.

The latest from Bruchac (Abenaki) focuses on the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz. The book delivers a brief history of the San Francisco Bay Area, beginning with the Ohlone Tribe, the original occupants of the region. It then covers topics including Manifest Destiny, broken treaties, the Indian Removal Act, and the cultural genocide of the boarding schools, setting the stage for tensions leading up to the occupation. Bruchac notes Alcatraz’s use as a prison where Native American men were unjustly imprisoned beginning in the late 19th century and traces Native rights movements leading up to November 1969, when a group of activists, mostly college students and people in their 20s, called the Indians of All Tribes, landed on Alcatraz, demanding its return. One chapter focuses on three leading figures, describng their rise. The closing chapter highlights the inspirational legacy of the Alcatraz occupation for subsequent Indian activists. Including archival photos and writing in an accessible tone, Bruchac strikes an ideal balance between allowing readers to engage with the story while also providing robust facts that make this a title with enough substance to be used as a reference for those seeking more information about this pivotal moment.

A well-balanced, visually appealing, and well-contextualized account.