Exhibit on historic 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz Island opens
Dec. 7, 2011 -- A multimedia exhibit on the 19-month American Indian occupation of Alcatraz Island opened on Nov. 20 in the cellblock basement on Alcatraz Island.
Invited by the National Park Service to be installed on Alcatraz Island, the exhibit, "We Are Still Here," was produced by students and faculty at SF State and California State University East Bay. They conducted interviews of native scholars and activists, documenting activities that took place to mark the occupation, which began on Nov. 20, 1969.
The occupation provided visibility for the many challenges facing America's original peoples and led to victories in civil rights and native sovereignty.
The multi-media exhibit contains photographs of a celebration held on the 40th anniversary of the occupation, an audio landscape with excerpts from interviews of Alcatraz veterans and native activists, a collage of contemporary and archival footage, contemporary Native American poetry and original art. The exhibit was originally shown at the SF State Cesar Chavez Student Center in Nov. 2010.
To learn more about Alcatraz Island: http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm
For visitor information: http://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/index.htm
Indigenous leaders at the 40th Anniversary of the American Indian Occupation of Alcatraz Island. Photograph by Salvador Sanchez Strawbridge
Morning Star Gali passes out information to celebration participants. Photograph by Salvador Sanchez Strawbridge
Entrance to the "We are still here" exhibit on Alcatraz Island. Photograph by Philip M. Klasky
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