2008 Longest Walk 2 Spiritual Gathering
Berkeley, CA February 11, 2008

The first stop for the 2008 Longest Walk 2 was Berkeley's endangered Memorial Oak Grove on the university campus and site of a Native burial ground. They gathered to call attention to the tree sitters who have protected the grove and burial ground from the university's plan to cut the trees and develop the site. Wounded Knee De Ocampo and others spoke to the group of over one hundred outside the two barbed wire fences blocking entrance to the grove. The Mewuk elder called for the crowd to join the struggle to "protect sacred sites, our sovereignty, the environment, peace, justice" Wounded Knee then led the group to a 200-year-old Coastal Live Oak at the north end of the grove. He encouraged participants to offer their prayers. Save Mother Earth!

They also addressed the current court actions to protect the Native site and of the UC Regent's plans to further desecrate the burial ground. Ayr, Oak Grove ground supporter since the beginning, spoke briefly about the Native history of the area. He praised the courage of the tree sitters and commitment to the grove occupation. The tree sit was in its 437th day.

Longest Walk at the Oak Grove Burial Site Berkeley
Berkeley, CA February 11, 2008
A large community gathering was held at the Oak Grove tree-sit to receive those preparing to begin the Longest Walk.The journey to Washington D.C. from Sacramento will take about five month. The group hopes to raise awareness to the many environmental and cultural issues facing the country and Indigenous people. Zachary Running Wolf, first to take to the trees in 2006, thanked those participating in the Longest Walk for coming to honor the burial site and for their help in making others aware of the struggle in Berkeley.

• ALSO SEE...
• American Indian Movement Dennis Banks Speaks Out Berkeley CA February 11, 2008
• Longest Walk 2 Begins Ceremony & Support for Repatriation for California Tribal Nations
• Ohlone Burial Site Press Conference Stadium Memorial Oak Grove, Berkeley - February 20, 2007
• West Berkeley shellmound - University of California Archaeological Survey
• Giving Back the Past - Los Angeles TimesNov. 25, 1993
• Relics Tell Indian LifeLos Angeles Times September 11, 1927
• Stadium Excavation Reveals Relics of Human Bones and Ancient Coin
  Daily Californian, February 23, 1923 Page 1.
• Tree-sitters say site might be burial ground Human skeleton was found on site in 1923
  Carolyn Jones, SF Chronicle, February 21, 2007
• Longest Walk 2 - Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship Benefit February 2008
• UC BErkeley - Thousands of Indigenous skeletal remains being held in boxes