The Red Power movement ignited a wave of protests across the Southwest in the 1960s and 70s. Native activists occupied symbolic sites like Alcatraz Island and Wounded Knee, demanding the return of ancestral lands and an end to government oppression.

These demonstrations raised public awareness about Native American issues and influenced policy changes. The occupations and spiritual walks drew media attention, pressuring the government to pass laws supporting tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation.

Red Power Demonstrations in the Southwest

Occupations of Symbolic Sites

• The occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969-1971 was led by the Indians of All Tribes group to demand the return of the island under the Treaty of Fort Laramie and establish a cultural center
• The Occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota lasted 71 days, led by AIM to protest corruption and demand the removal of the tribal chairman
• The occupation of the BIA building in Washington D.C. in 1972 by the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan protested living standards on reservations and demanded the abolition of the BIA
• The occupation of Mount Rushmore in 1970 reclaimed the site as Sioux land and was done in response to the discovery of a mass grave of Sioux people

Marches and Spiritual Walks

• The Longest Walk in 1978 was a spiritual walk from San Francisco to Washington D.C. to support tribal sovereignty and bring attention to anti-Indian legislation
• The Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan in 1972 involved a cross-country march to Washington D.C. where activists presented a 20-point position paper on Indian rights
• The Wounded Knee Memorial Ride in 1986 retraced the route of Lakota ancestors to commemorate the victims of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre
• The Long Walk Home in 1978 was a 3,600-mile march from Alcatraz Island to Washington D.C. to protest 11 pieces of anti-Indian legislation in Congress

Impact of Red Power Events on Public Perception

Raising Awareness and Sympathy

• The occupations and protests drew significant media attention, raising public awareness about the challenges facing Native American communities and ongoing treaty disputes
• The Alcatraz occupation inspired pan-Indian unity and was supported by many in the counterculture movement, generating public sympathy for the cause
• The Wounded Knee occupation, though controversial, exposed the poor living conditions on the Pine Ridge reservation and corruption in tribal governance
• The widely publicized Longest Walk solidified support for tribal sovereignty and demonstrated the spiritual and cultural resilience of Native communities

Influencing Government Policy Changes

• The Nixon administration's "self-determination without termination" policy in 1970 was partially in response to pressure from the Red Power movement to uphold treaties and tribal sovereignty
• The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 enabled tribes to assume the responsibility of managing federal programs, seen as a step towards greater autonomy
• The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was passed in the wake of Red Power activism to protect and preserve Native American religious cultural practices
• The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 addressed the widespread removal of Native children from their families, a result of heightened awareness from Red Power protests

Tactics of Red Power Protests in the Southwest

Occupation Strategies

• Most major protests involved the occupation of symbolically significant sites, like Alcatraz Island, Wounded Knee, Mount Rushmore, and the BIA building
• The duration of occupations varied, with Alcatraz lasting 19 months while Wounded Knee was 71 days, impacting the level of media coverage and government response
• Occupations often involved claiming sites based on historical treaties (Fort Laramie) or to contest injustices (mass grave at Mount Rushmore)
• Some occupations remained largely peaceful (Alcatraz), while others involved armed confrontation and standoffs with authorities (Wounded Knee)

Visible Demonstrations and Specific Demands

• Tactics often included highly visible marches and caravans, like the Longest Walk and Trail of Broken Treaties, to generate public attention and solidarity
• Certain protests had specific policy demands, like abolishing the BIA, while others advocated for broader goals of tribal sovereignty, self-determination and cultural renewal
• Demonstrations frequently incorporated spiritual and cultural elements, like the sacred pipe at Wounded Knee, to emphasize Native identity and traditions
• Protests sought to build pan-Indian unity, with AIM and other groups bringing together activists from diverse tribal backgrounds in collective action

Media Coverage and Red Power Outcomes

Shaping Public Opinion

• Mainstream media coverage was crucial in swaying public opinion and pressuring government officials to respond to the demands of protesters
• Television broadcasts and newspaper reporting brought the occupations at Alcatraz and Wounded Knee into the national spotlight, framing the debate around these events
• Media portrayals were not always sympathetic, sometimes perpetuating fears of violence and extremism that hardened opposition to the movement's goals
• The media spectacle surrounding the protests at times overshadowed their underlying message, with the dramatic confrontations dominating the narrative

Leveraging Media Attention

• Native American activists used the media attention strategically to articulate their positions, counter negative stereotypes, and expose injustices to a wider audience
• Press conferences and interviews allowed Red Power leaders to directly communicate their grievances and goals to the public
• Activists staged visually compelling demonstrations, like the seizure of the Mayflower II replica on Thanksgiving 1970, tailored to attract maximum media coverage
• The Indiana of All Tribes on Alcatraz issued the satirical "Alcatraz Proclamation" which garnered national media attention with its provocative inversion of colonial history