danbacher On June 19, the 33rd annual 500 Mile American Indian Spiritual Marathon departed from Pit River Territory in Northern California. The runners are scheduled to arrive at Sogorea Te (Glen Cove) in Vallejo on June 23rd, as their final destination, after passing through the Mount Shasta area, along the Sacramento River and the shores of Clear Lake.
Photo courtesy of http://protectglencove.org.
To view this story with photos on the Protect Glen Cove website:
http://protectglencove.org/2011/day-67-update/
June 19, 2011 – Today marks 67 days of prayer and continuous tending of the ceremonial fire at Sogorea Te. While meetings and strategy discussions are held in the background, dozens of committed native and non-native people remain present on the land in prayer. A steady stream of supportive visitors continues to pass through daily with donations and words of encouragement. Some stay longer, to share songs and stories, teach skills, help out with chores, cook a meal for the group, or offer prayers.
Early this morning, the 33rd annual 500 Mile American Indian Spiritual Marathon departed from Pit River Territory in Northern California. The runners are scheduled to arrive at Sogorea Te (Glen Cove) in Vallejo on June 23rd, as their final destination, after passing through the Mount Shasta area, along the Sacramento River and the shores of Clear Lake. The marathon’s main purpose is “to carry the message of the sacredness of all life, our relationship to all living species, and of the need to maintain the delicate balance that exists between humankind and our Mother Earth.”
This weekend, participants in the ongoing vigil at Glen Cove attended many public events in the Bay Area, the Los Angeles area, and in Northern California, speaking and distributing flyers about the ongoing struggle to protect Sogorea Te and many other sacred places and burial grounds in the Bay Area and beyond.
Bay Area events this weekend included the first ever Big Time Gathering in San Francisco, hosted by the Rumsen Ohlone tribe, accompanied by dances from the Elem Pomo and Pit River Maidu tribes. During this gathering, Corrina Gould (Ohlone) spoke on a panel about the work of protecting her ancestors burial and sacred places, and about the current struggle to protect Sogorea Te (Glen Cove). A ceremony was held to honor the Native American ancestors who are buried under the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where the gathering took place.
On Wednesday and Thursday, a workshop on beadwork was held at Sogorea Te, during which participants of all ages created broaches, necklaces and other jewelry. Also Thursday, another group of fishermen donated a 14-lb. striper to the spiritual encampment, freshly caught in the Carquinez Strait. During the past week at Sogorea Te, Valley Oak acorns were ground in stone mortars, and Arroyo Willow, Bush Mallow, Eucalyptus and Plantain were gathered from the land as ingredients for herbal medicines.
Last Sunday, local wildlife biologist and cultural anthropologist Jim “Doc” Hale met with members of the Committee to Protect Glen Cove. The group accompanied Doc as he assessed the flora and overall ecosystem health of the creek that flows through Sogorea Te, pointing out many thriving native riparian tree species, including Alder, Cottonwood, Willow and Northern California Walnut. Later this month, a creek cleanup and habitat restoration will be conducted at Sogorea Te by volunteers, with the oversight of indigenous leadership.
Throughout the past week, volunteers have distributed flyers about protecting Glen Cove and upcoming events throughout downtown Vallejo, Benicia, and the East Bay. On Saturday the 18th, Tino DeOcampo handed out flyers and spoke with people about Glen Cove at the annual Juneteenth Celebration (to commemorate emancipation from slavery) in downtown Vallejo. Flyers were also distributed on Saturday at the Annual Northern California Pirate Festival, at the Vallejo waterfront.
Many exciting Glen Cove-related events will be held in the coming month. Here is an overview of upcoming events that we have details about at this time:
Wednesday, June 22 – Vallejo, CA: “Protecting Glen Cove” Film Screening/ Speaking Event. Corrina Gould (Ohlone) and Wounded Knee DeOcampo (Miwok) will be speaking, and two short films will be screened: “Shellmound” by Andrés Cediel & “The Spiritual Encampment to Protect Glen Cove” by Rebecca Ruiz-Lichter. For more information, look here. 7:00-9:00pm at the Vallejo Naval & Maritime Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo.
Thursday, June 23 – San Francisco, CA: Benefit concert for Sogorea Te, presented by Rainforest Action Network and Wiretap Music. “This fun evening will include live music, drinks, photo booth, plus brief speakers offering updates and background on this important and quickly evolving Bay Area issue.” For more information and a flyer, look here. You can also RSVP on Facebook. 8:00pm at El Rio (3158 Mission Street @ Cesar Chavez, SF). $5-20 sliding scale admission.
Saturday, June 25 – Oakland: Workshops, speakers and discussion about protecting Bay Area watersheds and the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. Corrina Gould (Ohlone) will be one of the presenters. Time TBA, at the Sustainable Living Center, 1121 64th Street (at San Pablo). For more information, email floatingshoe [at] gmail.com
Friday, July 8 – Oakland: Film Screening/ Speaking event. Corrina Gould (Ohlone) and Wounded Knee DeOcampo (Miwok) will be speaking, and two short films will be screened: “Shellmound” by Andrés Cediel & “The Spiritual Encampment to Protect Glen Cove” by Rebecca Ruiz-Lichter. 7:00pm at the Intertribal Friendship House, 523 International Blvd.
*** Latest articles/links
Times-Herald editorial 6/15: This is not respect by Susan Rushing-Hart
Moving Image Productions via YouTube 6/17: Winnemem Ceremony at Glen Cove (video)
Indigenous Action Media 6/17: Statement from 6 Protesters Arrested for Stopping Snowbowl…
Indigenous Action Media 6/17: Photos: Protest Halts Snowbowl Pipeline Construction
Rainforest Action Network 6/14: Respect Sacred Sites: Protect Glen Cove
Native News Network 6/19: 500-Mile American Indian Spiritual Marathon to finish at Sogorea Te
To view this story with photos on the Protect Glen Cove website:
http://protectglencove.org/2011/day-67-update/
For more information and previous updates:
http://protectglencove.org/
To be added to our emergency SMS (txt message) alert system:
please email protectglencove [at] gmail.com with your cell phone number.
To offer or request a Bay Area ride from to or from Glen Cove, contact:
Casey – 609-317-3480 casey.romanick [at] gmail.com
Dylan – 415-810-9930 dylcooke [at] gmail.com
danbacher *** DAY 15 Update
This evening, Corrina Gould, Wounded Knee DeOcampo, Johnella LaRose, Francisco Da Costa and others spoke about Sogorea Te and Shellmound burial site protection to a very supportive crowd of about 100 people at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland. Following the talk, an honoring song was sung for all who have been dedicating themselves to standing strong for the ancestors at Sogorea Te.
Also this evening, Protect Glen Cove Committee members attended a Glen Cove Community Association meeting. A majority of meeting participants expressed support for our efforts. The President of the association also stated that in the first two weeks after the spiritual gathering began, he was flooded with supportive phone calls. (Thanks, callers and residents!)
The GVRD Board of Directors held a meeting at their headquarters today, during which a new resolution was adopted calling for the “closure of the Glen Cove Nature Area to the public during construction and improvements”. Again, they continue to lay groundwork for the planned desecration.
Meanwhile, the International Indian Treaty Council sent off an Appeal for Urgent Action to Special Rapporteurs at the United Nations, regarding threats to the Glen Cove Sacred Burial Ground. The letter provides background, details violations of human and indigenous rights, and requests that the Rapporteurs take urgent action, including a visit to Sogorea Te “as soon as practically possible.”
Large numbers of additional supporters arrived today — many thanks to all who are coming from near and far to join us, including the traditional singers who visited from the Jackson Rancheria (Me-Wuk). Special request: We need a driver of a large vehicle with a roof rack to make a trip up to Sebastopol (Sonoma County) to pick up Tipi poles. Please contact us ASAP if you can do this.
*** PRESS RELEASE:
Civil Rights Complaint Expanded, Spiritual Gathering Enters 3rd Week Day 15 :
Spiritual Gathering to Protect Glen Cove Enters 3rd Week as GVRD Breaks Agreement to Negotiate in Good Faith
SSP&RIT Files More Civil Rights Claims Against GVRD as Threats Against Spiritual Ceremony and Sacred Site Escalate
As the spiritual gathering and vigil being held by local tribal members and supporters at the sacred burial site at Glen Cove in Vallejo entered its third week, Native Americans working to protect Glen Cove filed more complaints this morning with the Attorney General of California in response to new and serious violations of civil rights by the Greater Vallejo Recreation District.
The organization Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes today filed an addendum to the civil rights complaint filed on April 13, 2011 with the State Attorney General in response to GVRD’s attempt to intimidate and limit the number of participants in the spiritual ceremony, attempts to restrict certain ceremonial practices including songs, and GVRD’s refusal to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. The new complaint also further documents the presence of cremations as well as burials at the site, highlighting the risk that bulldozing the hill poses to the ancient human remains.
In a major development, GVRD has informed the United States Department of Justice that they will not sign a proposed agreement allowing the ceremony to temporarily continue without threat of arrest, and GVRD has failed to follow through on their agreement to meet with tribal members to try to resolve the burial site dispute. Tribal members fulfilled their part of what was thought to be an interim agreement, including taking down tents used for sleeping during the around the clock ceremonies.
GVRD however has now refused to do anything they had agreed to do, while stepping up the police presence and monitoring of the ceremony. Support for the efforts of tribal members to protect the site continues to grow.
Last night over 50 people gathered for ceremonies and to welcome Mohave and Chemehuevi visitors from the Colorado River Indian Tribes who came to express their solidarity and encouragement. Hundreds of Native Americans and their supporters have pledged to peacefully defend the sacred site in response to any attempt to desecrate the site or remove the ceremony.
“I dont believe any of our tribal people would agree to outright grave robbery and disturbing sacred sites. We will not allow it to happen,” said Fred Short, Spiritual Leader of the American Indian Movement and a participant in the spiritual gathering at Glen Cove.
Glen Cove is located near the intersection of South Regatta and Whitesides Drive in Vallejo. A copy of the Civil Rights Complaint and Addendum is available by contacting Bradley Angel at Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice: (415) 722-5270 or bradley@greenaction.org
Media contacts:
Corrina Gould 510-575-8408
Morning Star Gali (510) 827 6719
Wounded Knee Deocampo 707-373-7195
Mark Anquoe (415) 680-0110
For more information, additional updates, and directions to Glen Cove: http://protectglencove.org/
