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Why did Indigenous activists occupy Alcatraz Island from 1970 to 1971?

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A dancer in a bright pink shawl with fringe, wearing traditional regalia adorned with blue and black accents, performs at an outdoor cultural event. — Native American November is the traditional time of harvest, gathering, and celebration in Native communities.

From November 1969 to June 1971, Indigenous activists—including members of the American Indian Movement—occupied Alcatraz Island to protest what they identified as the U.S. government’s ongoing economic, social, and political neglect of Native Americans.123

The occupation, led by a group calling themselves "Indians of All Tribes," was driven by several core objectives:

Self-Determination: The activists sought to publicize their demands for self-determination and greater autonomy.3
Land Rights: The occupiers aimed to gain—or, in their view, regain—legal title to the island, citing an 1868 treaty with the Sioux that allowed for the claiming of "unoccupied government land."13
Cultural and Educational Institutions: The protesters sought to force negotiations for the establishment of a Native American cultural center, a museum, and a university on the site.3

This protest was a significant act of political activism that highlighted the broader struggle for Indigenous rights and sovereignty in the United States.23