(Just for a place to put the context not annotating this sentence.) From November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, Native Americans took over and held Alcatraz Island as Indian Land. The Occupation of Alcatraz Island" was led by the Native American group, Indians of All Tribes (IAT). The take-over lasted 14-months and ended when the Indians were forcibly removed by the federal government. On November 20, 1969, American Indians again landed on Alcatraz-- despite an attempted Coast Guard blockade. The 79 Indians included including students, married couples and six children which included actor Benjamin Bratt and his siblings. To announce their action to the world, the dissidents issued the Alcatraz Proclamation. The occupiers cited treatment under the Indian Termination policy ( this policy was meant to assimilate native americans into white society) as the reason. They also accused the U.S. of breaking numerous Indian treaties.The IAT said they intended took the island over to build a Native American Studies center, spiritual center, an ecology center, and an American Indian Museum.

President Andrew Jackson, fellow lawmaker/ governors and citizens of California. The letter was for Richard Nixon, but the nickname "great White Father" was originally given to Andrew Jackson for his role in Native American genocide and relocation.

By saying we the Native Americans the author is speaking for all Native Americans signifying how this is a struggle for more than just the few who are writing this statement. It is a movement for all Native Americans during a time of nation wide protest and civil rights movements.

The author also jokes about paying $24 in glass beads and red cloth for the island as a reference to the ridiculous trade for Manhattan made 300 years ago. This rhetorical strategy is used not only to put the situation in perspective for other possible readers (not the government), but also to introduce a more civil atmosphere as a contrast to listing demand after demand. The papers intention is not to be civil, they are demanding something in it, but as a literary strategy it creates a civil atmosphere by acting as the “bigger man” (more mature: were willing to negotiate why aren’t you?) in this situation.

The author mentions how the island is unsuitable for them to live on, much like the other indian reservations they have given them in the past. Alcatraz meets all of the white man’s requirements for an indian reservation. This is part acts as another guilt slam and justification for their claim to the land.

By numbering the issues with the land, and purposefully creating short, choppy sentences, the author provides emphasis to each point. The emphasis creates a literary punch to appeal to the audiences guilt.