Category: Uncategorized
Posted on January 7, 2016
“This mission that our people burnt down”—Closing Ceremony in San Diego
On November 7th 2015, the Walk for the Ancestors reached its final destination at Mission San Diego after two months and what turned out to be over 780 miles of walking. 130 people joined together at dusk for… Read More
Posted on November 7, 2015
Together in the rain San Luis Rey » “El Camino Real was our Trail of Tears”
On Tuesday at 5:30pm in from of Mission San Luis Rey, we stood on the steps of the chapel in pouring rain. It was dark out, except for the occasional flash of distant lightning. Nevertheless, we soon found… Read More
Posted on November 5, 2015
Mission San Juan Capistrano and the messages in the walls
On Sunday, November 1st, we reached San Juan Capistrano, navigating past a dizzying array of mission-themed tourist shops. “First there was Mission San Juan Capistrano,” an Acjachemen friend wryly remarked to us. “Then, there was Disneyland.” In front… Read More
Posted on October 27, 2015
“This place is ours”—Tataviam families return to Mission San Fernando
Saturday, October 24th was an unforgettable day. Tataviam families gathered to receive the Walk for the Ancestors, taking over the plaza of Mission San Fernando for three hours with storytelling, traditional songs, and dance. It was the first… Read More
Posted on October 19, 2015
San Luis Obsipo: Grizzly Bears and Flaming Arrows
At San Luis Obispo, we were received by a strong circle of Northern Chumash families and other local native and non-native people, some from as far away as the Kern Valley Indian Community in Bakersfield. Chairwoman Mona Olivas… Read More
Posted on October 15, 2015
They tell on themselves: Stories of runaways and soldiers at Mission San Miguel
Just before sunset, we gathered outside the San Miguel mission cemetery, holding hands as Patti Dunton of the Salinan Tribe led a prayer and walked around us, singing a Salinan blessing song with a bull kelp rattle. She… Read More
Posted on October 6, 2015
The missing burial ground: What’s not happening…in Soledad
We reached Mission Soledad in the afternoon of September 27th after traversing the bone-dry Salinas River and the vast maze of agribusiness operations that spans the Salinas Valley. Of all the 21 Missions, this is the one we… Read More
Posted on October 3, 2015
Reportback from Carmel: “It’s not over. This just makes us stronger.”
On the morning of September 23rd, we arrived to Mission Carmel, bracing ourselves for a day we had not been looking forward to. In the Mission courtyard, about 75 people sat in plastic chairs, enthusiastically preparing to watch… Read More
Posted on September 21, 2015
Standing Vigil at Sunset in San Juan Bautista
After a long Sunday’s journey in the sweltering heat, we arrived at San Juan Bautista as the sun was preparing to set on the golden hills surrounding the valley. An eerie billboard on the edge of town reads,… Read More
Posted on September 20, 2015
Standing for the Ancestors in Santa Cruz, 80 strong
Saturday morning, we stood together with over 80 people of all ages, forming a giant circle at the very place where Mission Santa Cruz once towered over this land. All spoke aloud in turn their reasons for being… Read More