Institute for the Study of Societal Issues

While a large and growing body of literature has investigated the relationship between music and social movements in the U.S., few scholars focus on the role that radio and music played during the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes. Analyzing thirty-nine episodes from the Pacifica archive of Radio Free Alcatraz, alongside interviews conducted with organizers, participants, and performers associated with the occupation, as well as field work at contemporary Sunrise Gatherings on Alcatraz Island, this paper examines the relationship between radio, sound, music, humor, and political activism emanating from the 1969 occupation. I argue that the sounds of Alcatraz—including the radio broadcasts—carry the lessons of the past into the present and future and assert sonic sovereignty. This sonic continuity serves as both a memory and a guide for future Indigenous movements, challenging settler-colonial norms by maintaining a connection to land, ancestors, and community through sound. Through what I am calling an Indigenous Sound Studies (ISS) framework, I highlight how sound, space, and time intersect to build relations, remember the past, foster solidarity, and imagine new futures. The sonic moments of the 1969 occupation provide insights into the enduring power of sound to shape activism and self-determination for Indigenous peoples.