Alcatraz is TOTALLY an island

Richard Oakes (the Native American not the former guitarist for English pop sensation Suede) was, apparently, a fantastically charismatic Mohawk tribesman. He was the de facto "chief" and spokesman for the Indians Of All Tribes group that occupied Alcatraz two of the three times. It turns out though that he wasn't just an idealogue, but in the arguably symbolic occupation of the island was sort of a symbol himself.

Richard started out as an iron worker; a hard job that contributes to the American machine (particularly the industrial part) but that never quite gets the "big picture," like a 2D character in a 3D plane. He then enrolls in San Francisco State, attempting to improve his station in life through what one could call conformity. But he doesn't completely assimilate, and is drawn out to defend his customs and traditions. He tries to repel the white folks, but his overnight success is literally just that, and they're ousted the next day. Oakes kept fighting the land-snatchers, and finally a few years later made his last stand for the land that may or may not have rightfully been his. For over a year he and his followers managed to keep a handle on things, but outside forces and lack of technological and industrial know-how left them living in squalorous, decrepit, destitute conditions while the worst of white culture (in this case hippies, but I guess hippies can be analagous to alcoholism or lack of concept of ownership or something) perforated and infiltrated their bastion. Toward the end power struggles begin to boil; people think Oakes is a media hog, or too much say in the everyday goings-on, some said that the naturally combative nature of Indians pounded its way to the surface. Finally Oakes suffered great personal tragedy and left, his only parting gift to his former followers was a power vaccuum, but not the useful kind to help suck up dirt (they didn't have power on the island).

After the whole conglomeration of nations fell to the wayside, and everyone went back to living their own isolated lives under the influence of American culture (among other things), he was shot and killed. I couldn't find any biography that said who did it, or where or why it happened, but then the analogy gets all V-for-Vendetta-y: He was shot by his own people, who didn't have the foresight to protect their own interests. He was shot by a racist white guy, mad at all he'd done in the name of another culture. He could've been shot by a normal white guy; just an accidental victim in the push to dominate the area. Or maybe Oakes was shot by a mugger after the last little bit of what he had. But then maybe he just shot himself.