Richard Oakes (activist)

For other people with the same name, see Richard Oakes (disambiguation).

Richard Oakes
Born(1942-05-22)May 22, 1942
Akwesasne, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 20, 1972(1972-09-20) (aged 30)
Sonoma County, California, California, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
NationalityAkwesasronon
OccupationActivist
Known forOccupation of Alcatraz
SpouseAnnie Marrufo (1960-1972)
ChildrenRichard Standing Tall Oakes JR., Yvonne Little Fawn Oakes, Joseph Oakes, Leonard Oakes, Rocky Oakes, Yvonne Oakes, Tanya Oakes

Richard Oakes (May 22, 1942 – September 20, 1972)[1] was a Mohawk Native American activist. He spurred Native American studies in university curricula and is credited for helping to change US federal government termination policies of Native American peoples and culture. Oakes led a nineteen-month occupation of Alcatraz Island with LaNada Means, approximately 50 California State University students, and 37 others.[2] The Occupation of Alcatraz is credited for opening a rediscovered unity among all Native American tribes.[3]

  1. ^ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  2. ^ Peter Fimrite, "Occupation Of Alcatraz / 30-year anniversary of Indian coup". SF Chronicle, Nov 19, 1999 https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Occupation-Of-Alcatraz-30-year-anniversary-of-2895929.php Archived January 7, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Delilah Friedler, "Before Standing Rock, There Was Alcatraz", Dissent Magazine, Jan 24, 2018 https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/before-standing-rock-alcatraz-occupation Archived July 2, 2020, at the Wayback Machine