(Note from Doni: Tracy Edwards, Redding Rancheria CEO (above), emailed the following observations and photographs from Washington, D.C., where she and other Rancheria representatives traveled for Barack Obama’s inauguration.)
Hi, Doni, I just got into the hotel room. We’ve been walking around for hours.
It’s OBAMA madness: shirts, posters, beanie caps, key chains, socks and the funniest one — a hand puppet. It is not nearly as cold as we were prepared for. (My mom and Stacey ended up carrying their coats around.) People are bundled up in caps and scarves. I think everyone expected it to be colder. (We thought we might have seen a couple of snow flurries Monday morning, but nothing more.)
Photo by Tracy Edwards
As the day went on we could feel the excitement building. Everyone was walking around, crowded and bumping into each other, but everyone was smiling and polite.
As we were walking we saw one of those rented RVs with young girls yelling out the window, “Obama, Obama!”
Photo by Tracy Edwards
There is law enforcement everywhere, and young soldiers dressed in camos stand on the street corners. Although it doesn’t feel threatening, we do hear sirens every now and then. I asked one of our cab drivers if there are always this many sirens, and he said not as much. But he also said there are law enforcement here from all over, that they are not taking any chances, that the city is ready and they don’t want any problems.
The National Museum of American Indians – Photo by Tracy Edwards
We passed by the Capitol at sunset. It was absolutely beautiful. The chairs were all set up, the lights were on, and people were just walking around taking pictures.
Photo by Tracy Edwards
It is very festive, and we are having fun watching everyone. I think we have bought 15 T-shirts (at least).
I also think we just got a taste of the number of people who will be here Tuesday.
Monday night we will attend a Tribal Leaders reception.
Stacey Carman and Brian McCain of the Redding Rancheria – Photo by Tracy Edwards
