And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:19:12 EST >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: good news better late than never >X-Mailer: AOL 3.0 16-bit for Windows sub 41 > >Dawn Ceremony on Alcatraz >Indians observe alternative Thanksgiving >Christopher Heredia, Chronicle Staff Writer >Friday, November 27, 1998 >�1998 San Francisco Chronicle > >URL: >http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/1 >1/27/MN79123.DTL > > > > > >Thousands of people bundled up in coats, hats and gloves yesterday to >line up before dawn in the cold mist at Pier 41. They came from as far >away as Japan for the annual symbolic journey to Turtle Island. > >It was an unorthodox way to spend Thanksgiving, but many who attended >the 29th ``Un- Thanksgiving Day and sunrise gathering'' said they would >rather be out doing something spiritual or learning about history than >eating stuffing and watching a football game. > >By twos and threes, they boarded the first boat out of the harbor, the >Blue & Gold Fleet's Bay Clipper. Two boats made several trips to Turtle >Island -- as the American Indians call Alcatraz -- to accommodate the >crowd of 3,000 that had gathered to experience Thanksgiving from the >point of view of America's indigenous people. > >The smell of burning sage lingered over babies wrapped snugly in >blankets and over grandparents helped along by stronger adults and >teenagers. Once aboard the ferry, men gathered in circles inside, >beating drums and chanting songs. The boat pulled out of the harbor with >the twinkling lights of the Bay Bridge and the Embarcadero in the >background. > >``We came to teach our kids their culture,'' said Teresa Reynaga of San >Jose, a member of the Ohlone-Ritoci Rumsien tribe of Monterey and Santa >Clara counties, who was making the trip for the second year in a row >with her husband, Benito. It was the first time the couple had brought >their daughter Summer, 6, and son Marcus, 5. The family had had to wake >up at 3 a.m. to make it to the first boat, which left moments after 5:30 >a.m. > >The Reynagas said they do not celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey and all >the trimmings. Instead, they prefer to spend the day doing something >educational or cultural. > >``I want them to grow up peaceful, not angry, learning their language >and songs,'' Reynaga said, as her son and daughter crouched down near >their dad's legs, peeking through the railing on the boat. ``They went >to bed early last night, because they heard we were going to dance in >the morning.'' > >And dance they did. Once they arrived at the island, they gathered on >the island's parade grounds in a huge circle that in some spots was 10 >people deep. > >They danced to the Buddhist drumming of an indigenous dance troupe from >Okinawa, whose members wore bright red, orange and yellow costumes, then >to the rhythm of an Aztec dance troupe in brightly colored feathers and >sequins. > >``Hey-Oh-Oh-Ha-Na'' they chanted over and over in a tribute to women, as >the bright warm sun broke through the clouds over San Francisco. > >Yesterday's event commemorated the 19-month occupation of Alcatraz by >American Indian groups and their supporters, which began in November >1969. The occupation was intended to alert America to Indian suffering >and to promote Indian self-determination, autonomy and self-respect. > >``Our history is one of struggle,'' said speaker Dennis Banks, who >founded the American Indian Movement in 1968. ``We were kicked off of >our land, including here on Alcatraz, which we call Turtle Island. We >still possess it in spirit, no matter who holds title.'' > >Others thanked the crowd for turning out so early in the morning and >asked them to remember the Indian lives lost after the Pilgrims' arrival >at Plymouth Rock. > >``The first Thanksgiving was held after a huge Indian massacre,'' said >Floyd Red Crow Westerman, cultural representative and ambassador for the >International Indian Treaty Council and AIM. ``It was early-day ethnic >cleansing.'' > >Holding small wads of dry tobacco in their hands, everyone stood to >pray, facing in turn toward each direction of the compass: North, South, >then East and West. > >``Pray for all our relations who died under the oppression of colonial >America. From now on, into the year 2000 and beyond, make a special >prayer for strength and unity as an Indian nation,'' Westerman said. > >Yuri Casasola Yat, a social worker from Oakland, said he found the >experience both uplifting and sobering. > >``It doesn't get any more American than this,'' he said. ``We're >celebrating what makes us American -- our native history. We are truly a >mosaic of people. This is our way of recognizing that there were other >people who came before us. It gives us a chance to remember the past and >think about the future.'' > >``Indian Joe'' Morris, who participated in the Alcatraz occupation of >1969-1970, said his heart was warmed by the sight of all those present, >young and old. > >``It shows Indians are coming alive,'' said 79-year-old Morris, who is a >member of the Blackfeet tribe and has published his diary of those >months. ``We took Alcatraz in 1969. It was the first step in promoting >jobs, housing and better health care for Indian people. It woke the >public up to our cause.'' > > > >�1998 San Francisco Chronicle >
