Just read about an upcoming documentary called Contrary Warrior about Adam Fortunate Eagle, who organized the takeover of Alcatraz in 1969. He has written several books, including Heart of the Rock: The Indian Invasion of Alcatraz (with Tom Findley). For those of you interested in the occupation (legitimated by the Sioux Treaty of 1868, also known as the Treaty of Fort Laramie, which stipulated that surplus federal property could be awarded to the Sioux), I thought I’d mention that John Garvey’s book review mentions the seminal (but often overlooked) role that a native woman named Belva Cottier had on the first occupation of Alcatraz in 1964.

It’s interesting that even though Fortunate Eagle organized the second occupation, I was unable to find an encyclopedia entry on him on one of my library’s online encyclopedias. This was the case even when I used his former name, Adam Norwall. I’m going to see if there are any print reference books that have an entry on him.

Fortunate Eagle’s activist work is noted for its poignancy through humor and he has been called a great storyteller so it looks like the documentary would be interesting to check out. Thanks to Kendra Kennedy on H-AMINDIAN for posting the article about the documentary!

References

Mullen, Frank X. Jr. “Fallon Artist and Native Activist in New Film.” San Jose Mercury News June 27, 2009.

Garvey, J.  “Heart of the Rock: The Indian Invasion of Alcatraz.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 27, no. 1 (2003): 148-50.

“Heart of the Rock: The Indian Invasion of Alcatraz.” Publishers Weekly 249, no. 9 (March 4, 2002): 71.