JOHN TRUDELL: November 20, 1969 we came with 89 people to Alcatraz for the purpose of taking the island for all Indian people to have a place we could call Indian land. This tiny island represents freedom for all Indian people living in the Americas known as Canada, the United States, Mexico and South America. These are all our great lands of the Indian peoples now held in bondage by alien governments. We have been here one year occupying this island which represents our fight to live as free people in our own country. Our fight for this island representing freedom for all Indian peoples is nonviolent. We came to this island unarmed prepared to give our lives if necessary.
We realize that a gun does not make a man. And we challenge the entire United States military man to man, man to woman, and man to child, with no guns. Even if we had guns on the island we would be foolish to think we could fight the whole military complex because we are not the masters of weapons, violence, or murder. We are the true masters of peace. We don’t just mouth words when we say that we are the peace people, because we speak from our hearts and we are proud to say that we do. Alcatraz is the beginning of the return of the buffalo. Which means the coming back of our people and return of the Spirit. Alcatraz is a traditionalist spiritual movement. This is our prophecy and the Great Spirit is working for the people. We have won and not just Alcatraz.
Our first anniversary celebration marked by the 20th of November 1970 as a major victory for Indian people everywhere. We have endured the hardships imposed upon us by the federal government on a rock which has no natural resources. Despite the fact that the government had taken away our fresh water supplies, cut off our electricity, telephone lines, tried to endanger our image through the Battle of the press, applied pressure to individuals and families, and various other government negotiating tactics. We endured one year in the meeting of season to season completing the circle of our medicine. This is our victory, because if the government wants to play a waiting game we can use the time to build instead of watching them watch us test our insurance. Our people have been living like this all the time, under the same conditions. Only now in front of the whole world. We have proved before the whole world and to the United States government that our will to survive is greater than all the weapons in the world. No matter how much they have tried to annihilate us, assimilate us, and acculturate us, we still live. And in the coming year we’re going to start to work and strive in the direction of working with our Indian people and building an awareness as to the political situation and the reasons why the things are like they are. Indian people all over the world, all over the Americas, we know that we’ve all been ripped off. We’ve all been taken one way or another. And this is our rallying point. The white man considered us all equal in that one respect. He took from all of us. This is our common bondage. We have now something that, uh, we have another tool that the white society has given us. Whereas a hundred years ago we could not communicate because of language differences. Today we’ve got the English language. We shall turn it from a liability into an asset. We shall work to educate our young. To inform them as to the political situation, the social situation, the economic situation, that is going on in this country today. But we won’t stop. We finished our first year here. Alcatraz can’t lose. And we like winning so we’ll continue to do so.
But we will win on our own terms. We will not be drawn in by the United States government into using their tactics and fighting this occupation on their terms. This is our protest. We’ll do it our way. And we’ll win. Because winning is what we’re here for. No more losing for us. Thank you. Now LeNada Means will be explaining the plans for our cultural center. We’ve got the architectural plans. The layouts here. LeNada will take it over from here…Just to make everyone feel safe, we’re working on getting the funding and we should be getting some word on that in the not too distant future. And we’re not asking the communists for it. So everyone can rest at ease. We’re gonna do this all legal like. It’s going to run into, right around five million dollars.
Reporter: Over how long a period of time will it take to get this?
As long as necessary.
You mean, you’re negotiating for five million dollars in funding now?
We’re negotiating for, at least for that, or at least part of it.
With whom are you negotiating?
Can’t give that out yet. We’ll tell you when we get word on it.
John you mentioned about the funding. How quickly after that do you think demolition can begin?
Well it could begin very quickly after that. Because see money it’s like, you know, in our dealing with the government we’re holding out for the deed to the island, but we’ve already claimed ownership of the island. Now people won’t come in to help develop it because we don’t have any money to pay them. Now if we come up with cash to start developing the island, and I’m sure we’ll have some more people on our side to fight the government. Ya know, it’s amazing what a dollar can do, for right and wrong. ~
SOURCE: https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-28-p843r0q996