An evening with Native American artists, actors, activists, performers and filmmakers
Jim Fortier
1969 Indian Occupation of Alcatraz 30th Anniversary Celebration
"An Alcatraz evening with Native American artists, actors,
activists, performers and filmmakers."
Co-Hosted by Peter Coyote and Priscilla Coolidge
Featuring John Trudell and Gayle Hanson-Johnson
This benefit event will be held on Friday, September 10, 1999,
beginning at 6:30 PM at the Golden Gate Club, located in the
Presidio of San Francisco. Proceeds from this benefit will be used
for the 1969 Indian Occupation of Alcatraz 30th Anniversary
Celebration, scheduled for October 23, 1999 on Alcatraz. Funds
raised in excess of the amount needed to host the 30th Anniversary
Celebration will be donated equally to: (1) LEONARD PELTIER
DEFENSE FUND, (2) DQ UNIVERSITY, DAVIS, CA (Native American
college), and (3) AMERICAN INDIAN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, OAKLAND,
CA. Admission price for the benefit is $75 per person, a
percentage of which will be tax deductible. Tickets to this event
are limited. To order tickets, or make a tax deductible
contribution, make check or money order payable to "Alcatraz
Benefit Event" and mail to Alcatraz Occupation 30th Anniversary
Committee 1129 Manzanita Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044.
BENEFIT EVENT/SILENT AUCTION, GOLDEN GATE CLUB, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Native American flute music featuring musician and artist Lorenzo
Baca (Mescalero Apache), will greet attendees during a catered
reception beginning at 6:30 P.M. The evening's main fund raising
program will feature a silent auction of Native American fine art;
original paintings, sculpture, and other art forms, from a variety
of well-known Native American artists including Paul Owns The
Sabre, Michael Horse, John Balloue, Lorenzo Baca, Adam Fortunate
Eagle, and many others. Some of these artists will be on hand to
discuss their personal experiences and artwork influenced by the
Alcatraz Occupation and related issues. Attendees can mingle with
co-hosts Peter Coyote and Rita Coolidge (Cherokee), participating
artists, and others associated with the Alcatraz Occupation while
viewing and bidding on donated artwork. The evening will also
feature a special screening of the award-winning short documentary
"We Hold the Rock," a firsthand retelling of the Occupation of
Alcatraz Island by many who were there. Following the film, there
will be a presentation by poet and musician John Trudell, who will
discuss the legacy of Alcatraz based on his experiences as an
Occupation spokesman and activist. After a short break, during
which final bidding will take place, the evening's entertainment
will begin with a live performance by Native American Music Award
nominee Gayle Hanson-Johnson, a traditional singer from the
Timbisha Shoshone tribe of Death Valley. The program will conclude
with a performance Priscilla Coolidge and Laura Satterfield.
Important Update!!!!
Leonard Peltier announcement!
Native American political prisoner and artist Leonard Peltier has
offered to donate a piece of artwork for the auction. Leonard
Peltier has served over twenty years in a federal prison for the
deaths of two FBI agents in a shoot out many supporters cite as
part of the FBI's campaign to eliminate the American Indian
Movement in the 1970s. Furthermore, Leonard's case has drawn
International attention and outcry from human rights groups, heads
of state, religious leaders, and politicians throughout the world.
Amnesty International has recently agreed to step up their efforts
supporting Leonard, and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell is urging
the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings regarding
Leonard's case.
BENEFIT/SILENT AUCTION PROGRAM
Event co-hosted by actor Peter Coyote and Priscilla Coolidge.
Reception to meet/greet the donating artists with catered hors
d'oeuvres and beverages.
Reception flute music provided by Lorenzo Baca, Mescalero Apache.
Silent auction of Native American fine art and prints hosted by
Native American auctioneer.
Screening of the award winning short documentary "We Hold the
Rock"
Special presentation by Native American poet/musician John
Trudell.
Performance by Native American Music Award Nominee Gayle
Hanson-Johnson,
Timbisha Shoshone traditional singer.
Feature performance by Priscilla Coolidge and Laura Satterfield.
Alcatraz Benefit Event,www.turtle-island.com/alcatrazbenefit.html
Alcatraz 30th Anniversary Celebration,
www.turtle-island.com/alcatrazreunion.html
BACKGROUND
In November of 1969, an historic event occurred in the San
Francisco Bay which would leave a profound impact on the lives of
Native American people. Beginning in the early afternoon of
November 9, and continuing later that evening, a flurry of
activities ignited the hopes and dreams of reclaiming Alcatraz
Island in the name of Indian people. Finally, in the early morning
hours of November 20, approximately 90 Native American students
and Bay Area Native community members gathered in Sausalito to
begin the third and successful journey to reclaim the island. Led
by university students Richard Oakes, La Nada (Means) Boyer, Al
Miller, and others, the landing and occupation of Alcatraz Island
set in motion what would later be termed the "Red Power" movement
of the 1970s. After the initial outpouring of local, national, and
international support, the growing number of Indians on Alcatraz
settled in for a 19-month occupation intent on reclaiming the
island as Indian land, as well as bring national attention to the
social and political struggles facing American Indians. In June of
1971, U.S. Federal Marshals removed the remaining Indian
occupants, and although the physical occupation ended, the
movement which Alcatraz ignited continues today.
30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, ALCATRAZ ISLAND
In the tradition of honoring our warriors, it is important for us
to remember the bravery and sacrifices of those individuals who
made the Alcatraz Occupation a watershed in the history of all
Native Americans. Thus, there will be a 30th Anniversary
Celebration of the 1969-71 Indian occupation of Alcatraz during
which we will acknowledge the contributions of all Occupation
veterans. A committee has been formed to plan this historic
reunion to take place on Saturday, October 23, 1999 on Alcatraz
Island. To insure the success of this Anniversary Celebration, a
special benefit event is planned to help defray expenses
associated with infrastructure needs, staging, barge runs,
performers, and airfare and lodging to insure the participation of
some of the original Alcatraz Occupation veterans who do not have
the means to attend this Celebration on their own.