The Indigenous Canoe Movement: Part of the 50th Anniversary of Alcatraz Occupation Events

By Levi Rickert - October 24, 2019 at 12:02AM

Published October 24, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Historical Society is hosting conversation about the Indigenous Canoe Movement on November 12, 2019.

This event is part of the series: “Alcatraz: An Unfinished Occupation,” organized by the Alcatraz Canoe Journey in partnership with the California Historical Society, Exploratorium, Presidio Trust, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and San Francisco Public Library, and co-sponsored by the Natural History Museum. The four-part series runs from October 23rd to November 17th and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz and also explores the significance of present-day Indigenous movements and cultures in the context of a world at risk.

Speakers Include:

Lehua Kamalu, Kanaka Maoli, captained the Hikianalia, a traditional polynesian outrigger canoe on its recent voyage from Hawaii to California. Kamalu is the first woman to captain a traditional polynesian vessel.
Frank Brown, Heiltsuk from Bella Bella, British Columbia, organized North America’s first Tribal Canoe Journey to coincide with Expo ‘86 in Vancouver, BC. Brown will talk about his original vision, what it took to launch the first Tribal Canoe Journey, and how the event has taken hold and grown in the 30+ years since.
L. Frank Manriquez of the Tongva-Ajachmem is an artist, language activist, and leader in the California Indian community. She was the first member of her nation to build and navigate a traditional tii’at in over 100 years and participates in the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys.
Marcus Lopez, Chumash from Santa Barabara, is a captain of his peoples traditional vessel, the tomol. He helps lead an annual crossing from the California mainland to the Channel Islands. All will speak to the challenges and positive impacts of canoe culture on Indigenous communities as well as the environmental movement.