Richard Oakes

Born May 22, 1942 Died September 20, 1972 Age 30

What he did

Richard Oakes was a Mohawk Native American and what he did is promote the fundamental idea that native people have a right to have justice, respect and control of the own lives. Oakes played an integral part in creating one of the first Native American Studies departments in the nation. He led a exception to Alcatraz Island in 1969 and it lasted till 1971 with about 80 students from UCLA students from the American Indian Studies Center. Richard Oakes died From being shot and killed by a man named Michael Morgan in september 20, 1972.


"This is the beginning of our fight for justice and self-determination" Richard Oakes - mohawk