One major difference between the occupations of Alcatraz in 1969 and Wounded Knee in 1973 was that

One thing which distinguished the occupation of Alcatraz in the year of 1969 in comparsion to the events of Wounded Knee in 1973 was that what was happening in Alcatraz was meant to protest broken treaties. While the events in Wounded Knee four years later didn't have this as a main goal.