Sunrise ceremony

By Estela Fuentes
The Guardsman

Thousands gathered at San Francisco’s Pier 33 in the early morning of Thanksgiving Day to set sail for Alcatraz Island for the Native American Annual Sunrise Ceremony.
The Sunrise Ceremony is a celebration of survival and resistance of Native American tribes from the oppression, violence and discrimination they’ve had to endure since America was “discovered.” Many different tribes from across California, as well as other states, came to take part in the event.

Tribe elders aboard the first ferry beat a drum intensely and chanted while the boat slowly made its way to Alcatraz. At the same time people lit small bundles of sage and passed them around the crowd of people that circled around the elders.

Once on Alcatraz, the elders lead the mass of people up the hill of the island to where the ceremony took place. A bonfire was already waiting for everyone at the top, with a beautiful view of San Francisco as a backdrop.

People gathered together in a massive circle around the fire with all tribe elders in the inner circle. The ceremony began with Pomo Dancers, dancing around the bonfire barefoot. The women wore colorful cotton clothing and the men only wore shorts and loin cloths.

Jeremy Goodfeather also shared with the crowed his newest song “Accidentally Brown” dedicated to immigrates in our nation.

As the sun slowly began to make its appearance, tinting the sky in many shades of orange, tribe leaders began chanting in their native dialects, thanking the creator for life and all of its splendor.

During the prayer, an elder wearing a bear skin—representing the bear spirit—walked around the bonfire welcoming the sun as it brought light over the island. The ceremony ended with Mechica dances in honor of the sun.

The entire ceremony was broadcast live over the radio. But everyone was asked to shut off all cameras and video equipment once praying began in order to preserve the sacredness of the rituals and traditions.