The Winnemem Wintu Tribe will hold a four-day War Dance (H’up Chonas in Winnemem) May 24-27 at the McCloud River site where they hold their Coming of Age ceremonies. The War Dance signifies the tribe’s spiritual commitment to defend at all costs the ceremony from heckling, flashing, and violating disruptions by recreational boaters that have occurred in previous years.

More than 400 volunteers from throughout the country, native and non-native, are expected to converge upon the sacred sites to help the tribe close the river and protect the War Dance from interference by boaters. The ceremony will begin Thursday with the light of the sacred fire and an opening dance. On Friday and Saturday, the Tribe and volunteers will blockade a 400-yard stretch of the river.

“We hope the blockade will let the Forest Service know that boats don’t belong in ceremony and that we will do it ourselves if they won’t take the appropriate measures to protect our young women’s ceremonies,” said Caleen Sisk, spiritual leader and chief.

Read More | Forest Service Ignores Tribe's Request for Peaceful Sacred Ceremony | Previous Coverage: Winnemem Wintu Tribal Leaders Challenge Forest Service to Protect Native Women's Rights

A Skyline High School senior is dead after Oakland police profiled and opened fire on him. The summary execution of 18-year-old Alan Dwayne Blueford occurred near 90th Avenue and Birch Street in Oakland, early in the morning on Sunday, May 6th. Alan and two friends were standing outside waiting for some female acquaintances to give them a ride. According to Oakland police, two of their officers believed one of the youth was carrying a gun.

It is unclear how this was determined based on their looks. Police say the young men ran, and officer Miguel Masso chased Alan for two blocks before firing three shots, killing him instantly. All three shots struck Alan in the back, and Masso shot himself in the foot as well. The officer was taken to the hospital for treatment, while young Alan was left to lie on the street, his lifeless body staying at the scene of the murder for four hours.

Several marches and demonstrations have been held demanding justice for Alan Blueford since he was killed. On May 12th in front of the Eastmont Mall Police sub station, Alan's cousin spoke of the lies the police told the family immediately after his killing.

Read More | May 12 March and Rally Videos: Rally Demanding Justice for Alan Blueford, Murdered by Oakland Police, East Oakland, CA. | Protest march for Alan Blueford, killed by Oakland Police during a pedestrian stop | The Sorrow of Repetition (On the Murder of Alan Blueford)

Members of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe from northern California on Monday, April 16 challenged Randy Moore, U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester, at his Vallejo office to protect indigenous women from racial slurs and physical harm during coming of age ceremonies planned for this June. Although claiming to be unfamiliar with the issue, Moore promised to review the Winnemem's request to close 400 yards of the McCloud River arm of Shasta Reservoir for 4 days so that the Tribe can conduct the ceremony. Moore committed to respond to the Tribe's request by May 1, 2012. While closing the river will mean a lot to the Tribe, it will have no impact on the Forest Service, said Caleen Sisk, Winnemem Chief and Spiritual Leader.

During a Coming of Age Ceremony in 2006, a woman “flashed” the ceremonial participants with naked breasts and yelled racist insults. “If someone did this during Mass, they would be arrested,” Chief Sisk said. “Like many traditional people, we hold our women in high regard," said Sisk. "This beautiful ceremony is vital to our girls' transitioning to womanhood with confidence, grace and knowledge. We must hold this ceremony for our tribe to survive."

Read more and view photos | Winnemem Tribe press release and more photos

On February 26th, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot dead by self-styled vigilante George Zimmerman in Sandford, Florida. Sanford police did not arrest Zimmerman for killing the unarmed teenager, nor even take physical evidence such as Zimmerman's clothing or the handgun he used that night. Police allowed Zimmerman to walk away without charges under the protection of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. Calls made to 911 by Zimmerman reveal him to be obsessed with young African American males, stating "these assholes always get away." A possible racial epithet can be heard in an enhanced-audio version of the calls.

Rallies and marches have been held across the country for Trayvon, including in the Bay Area. On March 21st, as part of the nationwide "1 Million Hoodies" march, hundreds rallied at Bradley Manning Plaza and marched in San Francisco. On March 26th, the one month anniversary of the killing of Trayvon, rallies were held on the steps of San Francisco's Hall of Justice and in Oakland at Oscar Grant Plaza.

San Francisco: Video 1 | 2 | Photos
New York: Photos 1 | 2
New Orleans: 3 monuments vandalized for Justin Sipp, Wendell Allen, and Trayvon Martin

See Also: Trayvon, Kony and Jamaican Pigs | Stand Your Ground Laws Legalize Murder | Lynch Law U.S.A.: State Defends Murderer of Trayvon Martin | Trayvon Martin Case Has Roots In America's Racist Past And Present | Shooting Death of Trayvon Martin Provokes National Debate on Racial Profiling | Sign the Petition for Trayvon Martin

The Kenneth Harding JR. Foundation and Bayview residents and allies call for support to surround Candlestick Stadium Sunday, January 22nd during the NFC Championship game in opposition to police brutality. A march to the stadium will begin at noon at 3rd St. and Oakdale in San Francisco and head via 3rd St. to Gilman and Jamestown. Kenneth Harding Jr. was murdered by the San Francisco police on July 16, 2011 for allegedly evading a two dollar Muni train fare. Event organizers ask that the community, "Join us in sending a message to the media and game attendees that the cops in the Bayview/Hunters Point Community are killing our children, violating our rights, and trying to silence the people for speaking out."

"Please support the community to Bring the Noise during Sunday’s game!"

"Come and stand up against police brutality. Speak out against the police killing our children. Come and support our truth tellers."

Event Announcement

The Save the Peaks Coalition is fighting the United States Forest Service in a legal battle to protect children from hazardous endocrine disruptors and to protect the San Francisco Peaks sacred site in Arizona from desecration. On Monday, January 9th, The Save the Peaks Coalition et al v. the United States Forest Service will be heard by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, CA. at 9:30am. The case argues that under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, the Forest Service failed to adequately consider the impacts associated with ingestion of snow made from reclaimed sewer water in its Environmental Impact Statement. Organizers are calling for a strong turn-out for a march and rally before the court hearing, and a welcoming reception will be held the previous day on Sunday, January 8th.

The Forest Service approved reclaimed sewer water for the use of snowmaking at a local Northern Arizona ski resort in 2004. The reclaimed sewer water in question is from Flagstaff's Rio de Flag Sewage Plant that has proven to contain harmful bacteria, and endocrine disruptors such as pharmaceuticals and hormones amongst other known toxins. Environmental justice groups are specifically asked to come aboard to educate their followers about the grave impacts of this situation.

Schedule of Events | Indigenous Caravan Travels to San Francisco from Arizona to Stop Snow Made with Reclaimed Sewer Water | See also: Solidarity Demonstration at Forest Service Office in Vallejo on August 25th, 2011

In a call-out for a march at 1pm from 14th Street & Broadway to a rally at the Fruitvale BART station on January 1st, 2012, organizers write: "A major political movement was launched on January 1st, 2009. Its catalyst was the police killing of Oscar Grant, a young, unarmed Black father executed by the BART police. This murder awakened a sleeping giant — Bay Area residents angry and frustrated at the continued abuse of power perpetrated by law enforcement. Oscar and all the young people that were attacked and terrorized by the BART police that night, in addition to the many victims of police brutality in the greater Bay Area, have become ingrained in our collective memory. Their lives are the unspeakable price we pay to live in a society based on racial injustice.

"Not only do police serve the needs of the 1%, they have always existed to put down resistance in communities of color. But when other BART riders posted their video recordings of the murder of Oscar by BART officer Johannes Mehserle, the internationally-viewed footage led to a new form of resistance: Community Copwatching. Cellphones, cameras and a popular upsurge brought the first arrest, trial and conviction of a white officer for killing a Black man.

"The movement that touched ground in January 2009 — the organizing to address police terrorism — laid the ground work for the movement against the 1% here in Oakland. The polarizing disparity of wealth and the numerous police killings in our communities are inextricably linked. To unravel a system that forecloses homes, pushes our families into poverty and criminalizes our youth while gentrifying our neighborhoods, we need to not only address a system based on greed but a system that needs police brutality to survive and thrive through state terror.

"On this 3rd anniversary of Oscar’s murder, lets take to the streets to show that Oscar Grant is gone but not forgotten. Oscar lives on in the memories of his family and friends and in our resistance to the police."

Event Announcement

On December 17, approximately 75-100 community members protesting the desecration of Rattlesnake Island, the spiritual center of the Elem Pomo community, marched to the Piedmont mansion of John Nady, the owner of Nady Systems, who has been one of those pushing for the development of the island as the location of two luxury-style vacation homes. Community members first circled up and held a rally near the Lakeview library branch in Oakland, then proceeded to march two miles up and into the hills of Piedmont where Nady owns a large home.

Statements were read from Jim Brown, one of the leaders of the Elem community who was not able to attend the demonstration: "For the last few days my spirit has been crying for my ancestors, as the direct attack, destruction, and desecration continues. The best news is that the work stopped on Friday. I know it is because of Nady finding out about this rally of support."

"Please show respect for our people. The 1% wants us to display violence so they can continue to send out their stromtroopers against the 99%. Please show respect for the tribal people whose lands we will be walking on today. Oh way ah, Oh way ah, let the spirit of the people bring true justice to all people and nations."

Read more and view photos

Previous coverage: Elem Pomo Protest at Nady Systems in Emeryville | See Also: Protect Rattlesnake Island

For the 10th straight year, community members gathered on Black Friday to protest the desecration of the sacred Ohlone shellmounds in Emeryville that were disturbed when the Bay Street Mall was constructed on top of them. The demonstration was on November 25 this year, and organizers of the event hoped to educate shoppers about the Ohlone burial sites, and that there were other shopping alternatives located nearby. In 2000 the Bay Street Mall was built atop the largest and oldest Ohlone burial site in the Bay Area, amid protests. Before the desecration, the shellmounds at the location stood nearly as tall as the current structures. During construction, thousands of Ohlone ancestors were removed from the site, and hundreds were left in the ground and were eventually built on top of. The Victoria's Secret store on Bay Street sits atop burials that were not removed. Since the desecration, demonstrations at the site have been held every year on Black Friday. A short rally during this year's demonstration featured speeches by Ohlone and Native American activists as well as a representative of Occupy/Decolonize Oakland. Native American community members also sang songs, drummed, and played clap sticks. A list containing the names of alternative chain store locations was handed out to shoppers in addition to other printed materials.

Read more and view photos | Event Announcement | Save the Shellmounds!

At 12:00 noon on Monday, October 10th — Indigenous People’s Day — members of the Elem Pomo tribe will march to the offices of millionaire businessman John Nady in Emeryville to demand that he immediately halt his planned desecration of Rattlesnake Island. The Elem Pomo have invited supporters to join the protest and tell Nady that from the Bay Area to Lake County, people will stand up to oppose the desecration of sacred native sites.

Located on the eastern end of Clear Lake, Rattlesnake Island has been the ceremonial center of the Elem community of Southeastern Pomo Indians for thousands of years. The island was stolen from the Pomo in 1877, when it was deeded to settlers as private property in a supposed “clerical error”. Ever since that time, the Elem Pomo have been fighting to regain their traditional ownership of this sacred land, which is now privately held by John Nady.


With blatant disregard for the wishes of the Elem people, John Nady is attempting to build vacation homes on the island, and has already illegally installed a septic tank, and thousands of feet of roads, trails, and utility trenching. He has now strong-armed his way out of conducting the required environmental impact report and is poised to begin further construction at any moment.

Following the annual sunrise gathering on Alcatraz Island, Elem Pomo representatives and supporters will deliver a letter to millionaire developer John Nady at the Emeryville headquarters of his electronics business urging him to stop the desecration of Rattlesnake Island. Event details

See also: Indigenous Peoples Day events