Alcatraz Island sits in the middle of beautiful San Francisco Bay. Oakland is across the water to the east of the island. I can catch a glimpse of Alcatraz if I walk up a hill or ride up an elevator. There's a connection between Alcatraz & Oakland that's being celebrated today. There's a connection between the past occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists & the current occupation in Oakland. There's an even stronger connection between the people that occupied Alcatraz 40 years ago & those that occupied it 1000s of years ago.
Each occupy embodiment around the country now is unique. Here in Oakland, signs that occupy is linked with Native American resistance to the ongoing effects of coloniazation here & across the continent have been multiplying.
As things with the occupy movement began heating up, along with the joy of seeing the beautiful Oakland commune take shape, I began hearing often ignored voices speaking to the need for a process of decolonization even as we occupy.
I heard those voices spoken here-
Navajo explained
I think it's fantastic that so many people have come out to support the Occupy movement! It's sending a message and arousing more of the 99%. We Indians are looking at it differently however. Occupation is colonialist language and every city on the continent is occupied indigenous land. Decolonize Wall Street is finer tuned for us. That said, personally I fully support the Occupy movement and those who use non-violence to speak up for the 99% rather than those who use violence to defend the 1%.
Betson08's diary had this call from Deborah White Plume
I will believe the occupiers everywhere in their statements that they want their American Constitution upheld when they begin to speak the message that their Constitution, Article 6, includes Treaties are the Supreme Law and start to press their American Government and American People to honor the Ft Laramie Treaty with our Lakota Nation, Cheyenne Nation and other Nations that signed it.
We are the poorest of the poor, our death rate is the highest, our suicide rate is the highest, our unemployment has been at 85% for the past five decades, we die young from curable illnesses, our water is contaminated
I heard them singing in Oakland on Ohlone land-
I saw them-
As I walked around Oakland on the day of the strike I wore my two-sided sign. One side said "DailyKos" & was used to rally kossacks in the early a.m. The other side said, "Honor the Fort Larmie Treaties." That's the side I wore as we marched on banks & shut down the port.
A few reporters asked me with interest that day about the significance of the sign I carried, but lost interest immediately when the words "Native Americans" came out of my mouth. Native Americans aren't on the MSM's radar, nor on the radar still of most occupations.
From Occupy Oakland
6 AM to 8 PM
Tomorrow morning, as an act of unity with the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island, Occupy Oakland will be broadcasting the Sunrise Ceremony at Oscar Grant Plaza.
We will be assembling a community altar space beginning in the early morning and continuing throughout the day. All are invited to bring sacred objects to share. In particular, we’re requesting sage, copal, objects symbolizing the 4 directions, images of indigenous resistance, and images of indigenous life before conquest.
The community is also invited to bring breakfast and warm drinks to share with one another after the Sunrise Ceremony is broadcast.
From noon until 5, Terrance Nelson, Clyde Bellecourt, Oglala Vice President Tom Poor Bear and many other will be joining us for a series of speeches, performances and a mid-day feast.
Immediately following, the community will gather for Grateful Mic: Music and Words of Gratitude and Solidarity from the Oakland Community.
"The People of Color and Queer People of Color Caucus of Occupy Oakland cordially invite you to an event to honor our ancestors that died resisting colonial domination."
Our foremothers and our forefathers, ancestors who fought and rebelled from day one of this land occupation:
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Slave Revolters, Freedom Fighters, Migrant Workers, Indigenous Warriors, Indentured Servants.WE PROUDLY HONOR inspirational figures from our diverse backgrounds and the resiliency of our communities that brought us to this pivotal moment in time.We will draw upon this collective spirit to guide us forward.When: THIS Thursday! Nov. 17th from 7pm-9pm
I'm heading down to Occupy Oakland in a bit. One of the things that Occupy Oakland does well is feed people. They'll be food a plenty there for all comers. I already had some food with the Puritan side of my family, & now I look forward to being with the indigenous side of my son's family in Oakland.