Alcatraz is an Idea is a looped video animation by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Kota Ezawa depicting scenes from the Alcatraz Canoe Journey held in San Francisco Bay on Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019. The voyage and gathering honored the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz by Indians of All Tribes. The Alcatraz Occupation was one of the most important protests in United States history, marking a turn towards the recognition of Indigenous rights. Indigenous peoples from up and down the west coast participated.
The animation is on permanent view as part of the 49 South Van Ness Video Art Program, presented by the San Francisco Arts Commission along with 10 other video art projects. Watch a clip from it here.