Reflections, Photos, and Audio from the March 2008 PANA Pilgrimage to the Sacramento River Delta
On March 29th, 2008 over fifty people from around the Bay Area embarked on a PANA Pilgrimage to the Sacramento River Delta. They went together to remember the sanctity of Native people’s relationship with the land, transnational migration and rural labor experiences of Asian immigrants.
More Photos
Online albums of photos taken by participants:
Voices from the Pilgrimage
An audio introduction to some who came on the Pilgrimage
People came from across the bay area to take part in the first pilgrimage to the Sacramento River Delta. Everyone had a life story to share with the community.
Recording & production by Jun Stinson.
Gordan Lee talks about Chinese experiences coming to the Delta.
Lee draws awareness to the terrible conditions of the steam ships that Chinese came from San Francisco to the Delta in.
Speaking with Billie Elliston and Phyllis Coy of the Ione Band of the Miwok Indians and Paiute Indian, Ashley George
Elliston, Coy and George talk about the history of their ancestors to the land around the Brannan Island State Recreation Area.
SF State students think about the Pilgrimage
After a full day of learning about the Miwok Indians, the Sacramento River Delta, the Chinese in Lock and the surrounding farms, students from SF State stop to reflect.
Walking tour of Little Manila
Founders of The Manila Town Heritage Foundation guide a tour of the once thriving Little Manila in Stockton.
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Fraternal Lodge in Little Manila
These lodges were once important places of community for Filipino men when they immigrated to the United States.
Uncovering lost stories in the basement of the fraternal lodges
Members of The Manila Town Heritage Foundation discovered a basement filled with old photographs, books and trunks that once belonged to the men who stayed in the lodge.
More Student Reflections
Spoken Word: "Respect to the Past"
All: This is a reflection of three separate times
Girls: Past, present, future. Reading between the lines
Boys: Of Filipinos’ journey to this country
Girls: In search of work
Boys: And money.
Nick: Grandparents came during Martial Law. Runnin away. Beggin to leave, We had it bad by far.
Nat: I agree. It was bad. No chance to succeed during lockdown. President Marcos and Imelda. They laid the P.I. Smackdown
Chris: Man. My grandparents came in the 20’s. Ya’ll had it way to easy in the 70’s. Your grandfolks worried about getting work. But mine worried bout that plus getting put in the dirt.
Cat: My folks came to this country lookin for a better life. But for a while, searchin for that life was nothing but strife.
Jhoanna: My folks never really had that struggle. They stayed workin hard, showin that muscle.
Nick: Expectations difficult to achieve
Cat: Got a baby, another mouth to feed. Been working since the age of 15.
Nat: Two Jobs, 5 years college, debt. Still don’t know what to do
Jhoanna: Standards to maintain set way too high
Chris: Goals not met. Taking way too long
All: Listen to our struggles
Girls: Yeah life’s hard
Boys: We wouldn’t be here
Girls: if it weren’t for your start
All: Don’t even think you’re not in our hearts, and from the bottom of our hearts.
WE THANK YOU
Performed at Little Manila Stockton, California by SFSU students Chris Amodo, Catherine Munsayac, Jhoanna Navarro, Nathaniel Ramos, and Nick Ruperto
"This [SFSU] Asian American Study 331 Class gave me a whole new experience in Asian American history. I found myself and Vietnamese Americans got a lot of similarities with Japanese American and other Asian American people. First of all, most of them came to the America with the only reason: "chasing the American dream”. All they wanted was an easy life and a better future for them, for their children and for their next generation. However, after this class, I found the truth of "the American dream" not only in my family but also in all the Asian American immigrants. The truth is that coming and living in American is not giving them an easy life as they thought. They had to struggle with their hard lives for living and for the future of the next generation because of the language, the racist and many other things. For example, my parent came to American with a dream that we could have a better future and a happy life. However, the truth is not like what they thought. When our family came to the U.S, they were too old and didn’t know any American language. Therefore, they couldn’t find any job in the America, our lives were even worst than when we were in Vietnam. Finally, my parent had to head back to Vietnam and leave me and my brother here for education. A better life we don’t know yet; a happy lives we don’t have it. Moreover, the most experience I got in this class is the Delta trip. I learned a lot of things from this trip. I learned how to respect people and respect the history. The moment that I will never forget is when we dropped the flowers into the Delta River. This moment is really special and holy. Moreover, the relationship between me, my classmates and my professor [Dr. Gordon Lee] is more connected. Before, I barely talked with my classmates. I just went to school, listened to the lecture and then went home but this class gave me the chance to talk and make friend with not only my classmates but also with my professor ."
