Oakland is the ancestral homeland of the Chochenyo Ohlone, an indigenous community that has no collective territory of their own and no recognized legal status or rights. As detailed in The Memorandum of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, which the General Assembly passed with 97% support on 28 October 2011, the Chochenyo Ohlone have survived a brutal colonial history and ongoing occupation, which makes them strong members, allies, leaders, and guides to the movement of the 99%. In passing that memorandum of solidarity, we “declared that ‘Occupy Oakland’ aspires to ‘Decolonize Oakland’ – to ‘Decolonize Wall Street’ – with the guidance and participation of indigenous peoples.” Let us honor that memorandum and work in meaningful solidarity to “initiate a new era of peace and cooperation that will work for everyone, including the Earth and the original inhabitants of thisland.” Let us heed the encouragement of our native sisters and brothers, elders and youth, to choose a name that reflects the society and culture we plan to build: Decolonize Oakland.
As members of the 99%, we want to spread our message, swell our ranks, and use political language that is inclusive of our many communities. We want to open our movement to even greater participation. For many of us, including our local native communities, the terms ‘occupy’ and ‘occupation’ echo our experiences under colonial domination and normalizes the military occupations that the U.S. is supporting in places such as Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan. Colonization, occupation, segregation are still active forms of violence in our communities. Our neighborhoods exist under a police occupation. Gentrification, which is pricing poor families out of their homes, is colonization under a new name. Segregation continues in education, as wealthier families send their children to private schools while our public schools suffer and shrink.
6.12.11
Occupy vs. Decolonize vs. Liberate Oakland - Random Thoughts on a Contentious Topic
by Christine G. Cordero on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 1:49am
Approximately 300 of us were freezing out in Ogawa-Grant Plaza this afternoon and into the evening to engage in the proposal discussion to change the name of "Occupy Oakland" to "Decolonize Oakland." I wanted to just write out my thoughts and feelings from this discussion. These thoughts are neither in any particular order or necessarily an accurate and comprehensive representation of tonight's discussion. The Decolonize Proposal can be found as "Emergency Proposal #3" at http://www.occupyoakland.org/generalassembly/ga-proposals/.
What's interesting is originally (weeks ago), while I was completely supportive of decolonizing our actual movement work, I was ambivalent about trying to get a name change passed through the GA. To me, the work we did to cultivate decolonization was where we should put our energy. But as I listened more to why this is such a huge issue for people, I am in complete support of a name change AND in doing the actions to continue to decolonize this movement.
What's interesting is originally (weeks ago), while I was completely supportive of decolonizing our actual movement work, I was ambivalent about trying to get a name change passed through the GA. To me, the work we did to cultivate decolonization was where we should put our energy. But as I listened more to why this is such a huge issue for people, I am in complete support of a name change AND in doing the actions to continue to decolonize this movement.
Decolonize Wall Street! An Open Letter to the Occupy Wall Street Activist:
Thank you for your courage. Thank you for making an attempt to improve the situation in what is now called the United States. Thank you for your commitment to peace and non-violence. Thank you for the sacrifices you are making. Thank you.
There’s just one thing. I am not one of the 99 percent that you refer to. And, that saddens me. Please don’t misunderstand me. I would like to be one of the 99 percent… but you’ve chosen to exclude me. Perhaps it was unintentional, but, I’ve been excluded by you. In fact, there are millions of us indigenous people who have been excluded from the Occupy Wall Street protest. Please know that I suspect that it was an unintentional exclusion on your part. That is why I’m writing to you. I believe that you can make this right. (I hope you’re still smiling.)
There’s just one thing. I am not one of the 99 percent that you refer to. And, that saddens me. Please don’t misunderstand me. I would like to be one of the 99 percent… but you’ve chosen to exclude me. Perhaps it was unintentional, but, I’ve been excluded by you. In fact, there are millions of us indigenous people who have been excluded from the Occupy Wall Street protest. Please know that I suspect that it was an unintentional exclusion on your part. That is why I’m writing to you. I believe that you can make this right. (I hope you’re still smiling.)
Indigenizing Occupy Wall Street
By Hamid Golpira
Up to now, the Occupy Wall Street movement has been a mostly white and a mostly middle class affair.
Taking a glance at the Occupy Wall Street movement and its many offshoots across the United States, many observers asked, “Where are the American Indians of the reservations, the Blacks of the ghettos, the Chicanos and other Hispanics of the barrios, the homeless of all races, and the undocumented immigrants?”
And the answer was, “For the most part, they are not to be found in the Occupy Wall Street movement and its offshoots.”
This fact illustrated the limited nature of the movement.
But perhaps the times are changing.
On October 8, the Occupy Denver General Assembly unanimously endorsed an initiative by the American Indian Movement of Colorado on the rights of indigenous peoples.
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