Standing on this Land Together: Indigenous, Settlers and Migrants
Corrina Gould and the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity will lead a prayer ceremony and discussion at the West Berkeley Shellmound at 1900 Fourth Street in Berkeley on Thursday, July 4, from 10am to Noon.
Corrina will talk about the history of genocide in Ohlone territory and discuss the connections between the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the treatment of migrants today. In the spirit of cultivating and recognizing our shared interdependence, join us to learn and reflect on our own paths and histories that have brought us to stand on this land together today.
We will reflect upon questions including:
- What does it mean to be a guest on indigenous land?
- How is the invisibility, displacement and harm towards indigenous peoples and immigrants connected?
- How can we create new meaning together in celebration of our interdependence?
After the ceremony, for those who can stay, we will walk over to the water at the Berkeley Marina and have a picnic. Please bring something to share! Be mindful that the Berkeley Marina will be having their annual July 4th all day festival beginning at 12:00pm.
If standing for 1.5 hours is uncomfortable, please bring a camping chair. There is a Facebook event page for the ceremony, please RSVP and share if you are a Facebook user.
Shellmound legal update
Property owners Ruegg & Ellsworth and Frank Spenger Company sued the City of Berkeley in November of 2019 for rejecting their SB 35 application for a fast-tracked housing and retail development project at the West Berkeley Shellmound site. Early in 2019, Confederated Villages of Lisjan moved to intervene in this lawsuit, joining the City of Berkeley in defending the decision to deny permit approval. The case will be heard by an Alameda County judge on Friday, September 13. Please consider helping the Confederated Villages of Lisjan to cover mounting legal bills by donating to the shellmound legal defense fund!
Film screenings at San Francisco Green Film Festival
Mark your calendars: on the evening of Saturday, September 27 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco there will be a special screening of In the Land of My Ancestors and Standing on Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Tourists, with special guests Mutsun Ohlone elder Ann Marie Sayers and filmmaker Rucha Chitnis. This will be the closing evening of the San Francisco Green Film Festival.