On the Way to Alcatraz
For nearly 30 years, my whole life, I’ve spent the early morning hours of thanksgiving day with my Community on the waters of the Bay to honor the legacy of the American Indian Movement on Alcatraz Island. As a little kid, I remember not fully understanding the importance of being there, but I remember the ritual of it all: every year we would load into the ferry bundled up in our layers, arrive onto the island and smell the sweet smoke, hear the drum beats, and watch the dancers all while we were greeted by the sun coming up over the city skyline. Some of my favorite memories growing up were on that ferry ride back to the city surrounded by all my loved ones. My uncle would get out his ukulele and we sang songs on the top deck, looking out at the spraying wake behind us and keeping an eye out for dolphins. As i grew older, my understanding and gratitude for the resilience of this tradition has changed and grown. People have come and gone, passed but never forgotten. Through the evolution of this tradition, the ferry ride back and from the island remains.
Ashoka Alvarez • he/they • Chochenyo Ohlone Land (San Francisco)
Ashoka is an organizer, artist, and kayaker born and raised in the Bay.
