Honoring Fallen Warriors: Remembering Alcatraz by Robert Free

Greetings, we are gathered here today to commemorate the fallen warriors who have gone before us. Today, we remember those of the frontlines during the time this tipi was first put up on Alcatraz.

We remember: Richard Oakes, Raymond Lego, Mad Bear Anderson, Al Bridges, Mickey Gemmell, Darrel Wilson, Maiselle Bridges, Valerie Bridges, Alison Bridges, Janet McCloud, Don McCloud, the Hopi Clan Mothers, John Chiquiti, Eva Benson, Larry Casuse, Ross Montgomery, Charlie Buckskin, Mildred Rhoads, Peter Blue Cloud, Oohosis, Angel Martinez, Charlie Conway, Willard Miner, Alice Papino, Audrey Shenandoah, Pedro Bissonette, the 70 killed after Wounded Knee at Pine Ridge, Frank Clear Water, Buddy Lamont, Mary Frank, Joseph Stuntz, to name a few who were on the front lines of confrontations for self-determination and indigenous rights.

These veterans of that time are our roles models to look and learn from, to take heart and strength from as guides when we are lost or low of spirit. It is because of these brave hearts that blazed the trails and re-opened once again the struggles our other role models of a time before who face the frontlines of early times such as Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and others. Each generation must put forth on the frontlines a willingness the sacrifice, their time, energies, resources and sometime their lives. Taking a stand on the frontlines of struggles is not an easy path. It will leave you isolated sometimes, actually often. Your relationships and your family will be strained, as many of us in movement know first-hand.

Photos (L-R) original tipi erected during Alcatraz occupation. Youth bring in and set up tipi poles. Photos by Robert Free

I’ve named just a few that I was honored to have met. Many names I yet to add, and those not mentioned I leave to you to remember.

I’m getting on in years and health and find it time to not carry so much of the burden and challenge the youth to come forward and stand up, so I may sit down and rest. Here this tipi was put up so long ago, a symbol that was part of the beacon that drew so many from all directions to gather and to learn from one another, this tipi I pass on to the next generation to work towards a national site of historic significance designation, so the sacrifices of the many I’ve named do not go forgotten, so that their sacrifices become inspiration in time of need. So that we remember and commemorate the ideas and goals to achieve a better future for our family for our indigenous relatives and in the in the end all humanity to secure a healthy mother earth for all be nourished for all time.

We remember these veterans of frontline confrontation struggles because their names are not mentioned by so many that strive to glow off the glows of these warriors now passed. People always find inspiration and strength from their examples and is why we must ensure through stories and monument their memory forever.

For the next 5-years, almost every other day will make a 50th anniversary of an important event of confrontation action for indigenous sovereignty. Following on modeling rekindled with the second occupation of the island in 1969 until the shootout at Jumping Bull’s ranch on the Pine Ridge Lakota lands in 1975. The USA government repressed through assassinations and incarcerations of most of the frontline movements. Afterwards, the people went underground and were replaced by the nonprofits and non-confrontational protests.

Photos (L-R) Peter Blue Cloud, Randy Lewis and Robert Free during Alcatraz occupation. Robert’s family during anniversary celebration. Robert Free (left) and Sid Mills (right) during Wounded Knee II. Photos courtesy of Robert Free

This was and is a great compromise to have the sacrifice of the movements reduced to spoke persons pushing non confrontation to appease their non-native funding sources and white privilege comfort levels. These self-declared representatives of the movement of great sacrifices know not these warriors I have mentioned and their contributions. I have witnessed great growth of some tribes economically who are beneficiaries of the warriors never mention their names and contributions to their new developed self-determination, rebirth of language and cultures.

It has been hurtful to see tribes in the Northwest, East and West Coast and other places celebrate their new statuses without mentioning or thanking their warriors off this island. To thank allies for helping in their time of need, when their own peoples would not or could muster the strength of spirit, courage to confront the wrongs in front of them.