Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities Deadly Delicious
Aug 21, 2025
Discover the fascinating tale of the 1960s Alcatraz occupation by Native Americans aimed at reclaiming sovereignty. Follow the struggles that arose after leader Richard Oakes departed, showcasing both internal conflicts and the eventual military intervention. Switch gears to the inspiring revival of Springfield Creamery, where Chuck and Sue Kesey innovated Nancy's Yogurt amidst financial turmoil. Celebrate the unexpected alliance with the Grateful Dead, whose benefit concert united the community and saved the creamery, highlighting the power of music for a noble cause.
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Alcatraz Occupation By Native Activists
- In 1969, 89 members of the Indians of All Tribes boarded a boat and occupied Alcatraz to assert treaty rights to unused federal land.
- Their months-long occupation created a self-governed community and forced national attention to Native American sovereignty.
Treaty Framing Turned Protest Into Claim
- The occupiers used a 19th-century treaty claiming unused federal land should return to Native people as legal and moral justification.
- That framing converted a protest into a concrete claim that galvanized public support and federal attention.
Factors That Undermined The Occupation
- The occupation faltered after internal tragedy, leadership loss, outside drug use, and government cutoffs of power and water.
- By June 1971, federal forces removed the remaining 15 occupiers without incident.
