Mt. Shasta: War Dance blockade to protect ceremony from harassment (May 24-27) & call for resources

Call to Action: Help, Volunteer, Donate for War Dance May 24-27

Help our tribe’s peaceful ceremony of resistance, our spiritual commitment to protect the Coming of Age ceremonies for our young women from public interference and harassment.

Please note we are expecting more than 400 supporters to converge on the ceremony site to help our War Dance. We will be holding the ceremony without a U.S. Forest Service permit, and it is possible there will be arrests.

Though we are simply holding a ceremony that has existed since before the Forest Service, it will be considered by the authorities as an act of civil “disobedience.” Please prepare as needed and remember this is a non-violent, ceremonial action.

When: Thursday afternoon, May 24 – Sunday May 27, 2012
Where: McCloud Bridge Campground on the McCloud River, Shasta-Trinity National Forest north of Redding, Calif.
Bring: Camping gear, TP, food donations, first aid kits, canteens, inflatable boats,inner tubes, canoes, kayaks, trash bags, walkie-talkies, life preservers and a peaceful, humble willingness to help.
If you have a pre-existing health issues (such as allergies to bee stings, pollen, etc.), remember to bring your own medications. There is also a chance of rain. Bring rain gear. Highs are unexpected to be in the mid-70s to 80s.
Remember: There is no cell phone service at the site. There is phone service at the Hirz Bay campground about eight miles. Also, try to car pool. Parking will be limited.

Boat Information

We will be blockading a 400-yard stretch of the McCloud River on Friday and Saturday definitely. We may possibly do it on Sunday.

Please bring canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, rafts and anything that floats. We will have an air-up station set up for inflatable crafts. Also, bring life preservers.

People who are bringing boats on trailers can come put their boats in the water at the McCloud Bridge campground and then they can find parking 8 miles south at the Hirz Bay campground. It costs $8. There will be limited free trailer parking at Dekkas campground. We will escort you to the parking spaces.

Be aware that there is no gas or grocery stores for 30 miles from the campground. The closest stores are in Lakehead and City of Shasta Lake.

Please bring T-shirts that are yellow, red, black and white – we will be wearing a different color for each day.

Directions to Kaibai (McCloud Bridge Campground)

From Interstate 5, take exit 698 for Gilman Road. Turn right on Gilman road. You will follow this windy road for about 12. 5 miles before crossing the McCloud Bridge. Once past the bridge, campground is on your right.

We will be ready for volunteers on Thursday afternoon.

Resources

Training Agenda (coming soon)
Cultural Guide: Ceremony Eloquence- War Dance
For more information about the ceremony visit: www.saveourceremony.com

Food Donation List

Meals are an important part of our ceremonies, and it is our responsibility to feed all who attend, But as a small tribe with limited resources, we need assistance, especially it will be hard to estimate how many will attend. Please consider bringing food donations. Here is the list.

Meats (cooked for meals or cooked in stews and already frozen)
venison
salmon
beef roast stew
browned hamburger
chicken, precooked and frozen for dishes

Vegetarian stews (packaged and frozen)

Chili beans (packaged and frozen)

fresh vegetables like
summer squash
onions,
tomatoes,
corn,
chilies,
broccoli
eggplant
lettuce
any kind of veggies, but preferably those which can be used to make a meal with other things.

Fresh fruit and melons for breakfast

Lots of tortillas,
Potatoes for potato salad or breakfast already cooled and bagged up
macaroni already cooked and bagged up
eggs
bread and sandwich fixing.
If bringing cold cuts, they should be frozen and put into the cooler together.
We need mayonnaise,
spaghetti sauce,
salad dressings
Rice,
flour,
sugar
Rice milk,
almond milk. These are preferred over cow’s milk.