Indigenous American Lisjan Nation honors Bay Space ancestors with march from Berkeley to Emeryville

EMERYVILLE, Calif. (KGO) — Drumbeats guided dancers by a sacred dance wherein they honor their ancestors. The efficiency marked the top of a three-mile prayer stroll on the Emeryville Bay Avenue Mall.

“This is not only a mall. That this represents a historical past of individuals for 1000’s and 1000’s of years,” mentioned Corrina Gould, Tribal Chair for the Confederated Villages of the Lisjan Nation.

Gould says for the previous three years, a whole bunch have marched from the Berkeley Shellmound (or burial web site) to the Emeryville Shellmound, which is situated on the Bay Avenue Mall. Gould says it’s a likelihood to teach those who this mall was constructed on sacred land.

“(It is) about respecting our perception techniques and our proper to be right here. This is part of the erasure of our folks, by constructing on high of our sacred locations,” Gould mentioned.

Gould says the Lisjan Nation, generally generically known as the Ohlone folks, originated from Mount Diablo and their villages unfold all through the East Bay.

MORE: Berkeley restores Ohlone land to Ohlone arms in largest give-back in CA historical past

Within the battle to acknowledge the rights of indigenous folks, the ceremony additionally honored the battle of the Palestinian folks in creating an impartial Palestinian state, with frequent chants of: “Free, Free Palestine!”

“As youth, who’re combating for the liberation of our homeland from a settler-colonial state, we perceive and know we’ve got a deep duty to the folks of this land who’re combating for land again, who’re additionally combating for proper of return, who’re additionally combating for indigenous liberation,” mentioned Violette Mansour with the Palestinian Youth Motion.

That is additionally the primary prayer march for the reason that Lisjan folks regained possession of the Berkely Shellmound space after nearly a decade-long court docket battle.

“We plan to create a ravishing cultural middle and reopen Strawberry Creek on that land. And to actually have a spot within the Bay Space that talks concerning the historical past and resiliency of our folks,” Gould mentioned.