Posted on 11/24/2005 5:13:54 PM PST by lainie
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, United States (AFP) - A tribal chant rose from a thousands-strong prayer circle on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay as Native Americans held a sunrise "Unthanksgiving Day" ceremony.
"What we call it is Unthanksgiving," Bear Lincoln of the Wailikie Tribe told AFP as he waved burning sage to purify the area and ward off evil spirits.
"It was the saddest day for us. It was a big mistake for us to help the Pilgrims survive that first winter. They betrayed us once they got their strength."
Traditional Thanksgiving feasting in the United States is a tribute to the meal the original European Pilgrims shared with the Native Americans who helped them survive in the new land.
An estimated 3,000 people packed onto ferries that set out from Fisherman's Wharf for Alcatraz in the pre-dawn darkness Thursday, according to organizers.
A bonfire blazed at the center of a prayer circle set up on a bluff beneath the Alcatraz lighthouse. And at the base of the rock wall leading up to the ruins of the former federal prison were a pair of Indian teepees.
"Ultimately, this is their land," said Irma Pinedo, a Mexico City native who was among the Aztec dancers taking part in the ceremony. "For us, no turkey today."
Turkey, which nearly became the national bird in the United States instead of the eagle, is the main course at traditional Thanksgiving dinners.
"I take my children to this every year because I want them to understand there is another side to the story," said 41-year-old Erin Alexander, who added that the event has grown significantly since she began attending 12 years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.netscape.cnn.com ...
OMG there are thousands of them!
This is actually pretty amusing.
This is so much BS. The original pilgrims had a peacdful relationship with the indians of the plymouth area. They set up a mutual society of trade and buying. The pilgrims paid for land etc. The relationship lasted in harmony for 50 years. The Indians in SF didn't deal with the pilgrims, they dealt with the spanish and then later Americans coming in for the gold rush, and entirely different situation.
"Groups representing Palestinian, Aztec and African indigenous people joined Native Americans in dancing, chanting and prayers. "
Loony liberal left losers losers losers losers
Palestinians and Aztecs and Africans oh my!
The Palestinians can blow up the Aztecs, the Aztecs can rip the beating hearts out of the Palestinians, and the Africans can eat the remains cooked over that bonfire... and all will be at peace.
Sheesh.
"This is so much BS"
Don't forget these are San Francisco Indians.
Yeah, and the guy acts as if his Wailikie Tribe were personally harmed by pilgrims.
Earth to Indians (of 100+ years ago), You lost....
Can't take land from someone who doesn't believe in ownership of land to begin with.
Not only that. The native Americans were slaughtered, raped, and nearly wiped out by the Spanish, long before the pilgrims landed. They should be grateful North America was conquered by the English speaking people, or they would be a bunch of scraggly wetbacks trekking through a hot, dry border instead of fat lazy bums living off their casinos.
Yeah, running water was a real bummer.
More like Earth to Indians ... you were defeated by a far superior civilization.
Get over it already!
"Yeah, running water was a real bummer."
That's real clever, coming from a guy named AmishDude. :)
Ahhhh, the wisdom of the Stone Age.
Is John Edwards handy? Maybe the descendants of the Pilgrims can sue the descendants of the Injuns for all the nastiness and death caused by that wonderful Native American gift of tobacco. ;>)
"They betrayed us once they got their strength."
Reminds me of Algore...
"He betrayed this country! He played on our fears!"
I beg to differ. Just look around you.
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