California IN BRIEF : ALCATRAZ ISLAND : Indians Hold Counter-Ceremony

Hundreds of American Indians held a traditional fire and dance ceremony on Alcatraz to honor their roots and protest the observance of Columbus Day. The early morning ceremony sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Council brought out about 300 people who took ferries from San Francisco to the deserted island prison. Still cameras and television crews were banned from filming the fire and pipe ceremony in order to protect the sacredness of the ritual, which included several dancers dressed in traditional dress and painted faces. “My main reason was to sing and dance and recognize Indians being together again. We’re not here to celebrate Columbus landing in America,” said David Smith, 41, of the Pomo Indian Nation.