Unthanksgiving Day facts for kids
Unthanksgiving Day (also called Un-Thanksgiving Day) is an event held on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. It is also known as the Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony. This special day honors the native peoples of the Americas and supports their rights. It happens at the same time as the National Day of Mourning in Massachusetts.
The Alcatraz ceremony has taken place every year since 1975. It remembers a protest from 1969 when the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement (ARPM) occupied the island. The International Indian Treaty Council and American Indian Contemporary Arts organize this event. The event celebrates how Native American tribes have survived after Europeans came to the Americas. Organizers want it to be a different kind of celebration compared to the traditional American Thanksgiving. The traditional Thanksgiving remembers the Pilgrims sharing a meal with the Wampanoag tribe.
History of the Protest
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In 1969, a group of Native Americans from the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement took action. This group was called Indians of All Tribes (IAT). They occupied Alcatraz Island. They did this based on the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty said that extra government land should go to Native Americans.
The occupation lasted for 19 months. It started on November 20, 1969, and ended on June 11, 1971. Members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) visited them. Inspired by the Alcatraz occupation, AIM led other protests. The first of these was on Thanksgiving in 1970. During this protest, they painted Plymouth Rock red. This protest continued as the National Day of Mourning.
The U.S. government eventually ended the Alcatraz occupation by force. During the time Alcatraz was occupied, hundreds of Native Americans joined the movement. They spoke out for their rights. This was a busy time for Native American activism and protest. It happened when the civil rights movement for minority groups in the United States was very strong.
Today's Celebration
Every year on the day of the United States Thanksgiving holiday in November, thousands of indigenous people and visitors travel to Alcatraz Island. Groups perform dances before sunrise to honor their ancestors. Other groups show different parts of their cultures and heritage. They also speak out for the rights of their people. This celebration is open to everyone who wants to attend.
A similar sunrise ceremony also takes place on Alcatraz Island on Indigenous Peoples' Day.
