Early Retirement Blog

 Thanksgiving on Alcatraz 2008

A Green Thanksgiving.  No turkey, stuffing, gravy, or cranberry sauce. Instead, at 6:00 a.m in the cold damp November air of San Francisco, we board a crowded ferry bound for Alcatraz Island.  On this day, as on every Thanksgiving day, the island belongs once again to Native Americans.

Old warriors, of the 19 month re-occupation of Alcatraz Island, veterans of Wounded Knee, and thousands of other Native Americans young and old gather to remember.   Forming a large circle under the island’s light house, tears can be seen flowing down the shivering painted cheeks of squaws waiting to dance, it is a powerful ceremony. Broken treaties, genocides, struggles, are recited.  And then the drums, followed by warriors and squaws in ceremonial costume, enter the circle and begin to dance.

You can see the video I shot this Thanksgiving morning on Youtube.  Thanksgiving Alcatraz 2008

Green Indians
All Americans, native or not, can learn from this continent’s original inhabitants.  In general, Native American lived sustainable lives, conserving their natural resources.  They worshiped the earth.  For this reason, Native Americans thrived on this land for 15,000 years, while it only took the white man 500 years to exploit and consume the continent.

If current Americans wish to remain on this land for another 15,000 years, we will have to bring back the trees, animals, rivers, fish, grasslands, swamps, deltas, lakes, creeks, and butterflies.  We will have to learn to live in harmony, not attempt to be the masters, of our planet.