Performative Art and Alcatraz

    So I actually did some research on this and the story is quite interesting. Essentially what happened was five Sioux landed on Alcatraz in 1964, one year after the prison closed, and attempted to claim the island under a treaty that allowed Native Americans to use surplus federal land. 5 years later, a small group seized Alcatraz for a day, symbolizing the land taken from their ancestors. Shortly after, 90 Native Americans occupied the island, staying there for 19 months and swelling to a population of over 600.

    A major part of the occupation seemed symbolic. Just as the white men came and claimed land that didn't belong to them, the indigenous people returned the favor. Additionally, the larger group mocked their own treatment, saying the situation at Alcatraz (no clean water and limited supplies) was no better than those in the reservations. They created a Bureau of Caucasian Affairs, a parody on the hated Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    I think that performance art is in large part a way to draw awareness to a certain problem. While those first takeovers of Alcatraz certainly didn't last long, I'm sure they made the papers and their story was made into an article on History.com. This act helped bring attention to the past mistreatment of the indigenous people and even the current wrongs (like the treatment on the reservations) being perpetrated against Native Americans.

    In a way, There There could be considered a work of performative art, in that it brings awareness to an issue. I was never aware of many of the issues that are revealed in the novel. For instance, Tommy Orange brings to light the problems with addiction that many Natives Americans face, demonstrating some of the long-term effects of the Manifest Destiny mindset.