Alcatraz is Not an Island.Indian Activism.Timeline

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'60s | '70s-'80s | '90s-2002


		Click on the image for a larger view Crucifixion Dorothy Grandbois (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) St. Eustace's New Suit Norman Akers (Osage/Pawnee) Come Across (White Heat) Lorenzo Clayton (Navajo) House and Home Juane Quick-to-See (Flathead)

1990 - The Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act protects Indian gravesites on federal public lands against looting. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which goes into effect in 1996, finally protects the work of Indian artists, an effort that began in 1935.

1992 - The celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas prompts protests from many Native American tribes and supporters, prompting cities including Denver and San Francisco to stop their quincentenary celebrations.

February 11 - July 15, 1994 - AIM leaders undertake a nationwide "Walk for Justice" beginning on Alcatraz Island to bring attention to the continued unjust imprisonment of Leonard Peltier.

1997 - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting establishes Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc., (NAPT) to promote, produce and distribute Native American television and radio programming.

1999 - On March 22, Sioux people establish the Oceti Sakowin spiritual camp on La Framboise Island in the Missouri River near Pierre, South Dakota, in protest of the treaty-breaking Danklow Acts (Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Restoration Act and Water Resources Development Authorization), which give 200,000 acres of tribal lands to the state of South Dakota.

July 7, 1999 - President Bill Clinton visits the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota for a "nation to nation" business meeting and tours the reservation's housing facilities. The president signs a pact with Oglala leaders establishing an empowerment zone and participates in a conference on home ownership and economic development for Native Americans.

October, 1999 - Nearly 2000 American Indians, Canadian First Nation peoples and Alaskan Natives return to Alcatraz, some for the first time since 1969, to mark the 30th anniversary of the occupation during a day of spiritual, cultural and musical celebration. John Trudell, former Occupation Council member and spokesman, performs with his band.

January 16, 2000 - The activist group Grass Roots Oyate begins its occupation of the Red Cloud Building at the Oglala Sioux Tribal Headquarters, Pine Ridge Reservation, in protest of what they deem the corrupt, oppressive and ineffective politics of tribal leadership. Federal officials remove financial records the following day, and the elected tribal president is suspended. The activists vow to continue the occupation until their demands are met.

August 2002 - The U.S. District Court of Oregon rules that bones of the 9,000 year-old human remains known as Kennewick Man, found in the Columbia River in Washington, be returned to the five Indian tribes that have claimed him as their ancient ancestor, as determined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.