Ex-football star and Nike spokesman Colin Kaepernick spoke at the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony on Thursday at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, California. Kaepernick made the surprise visit to the Native Americans’ “Unthanksgiving,” where he danced and spoke to the crowd.

The annual demonstration at Alcatraz commemorates the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists that lasted until 1971.

Kaepernick was given two eagle feathers from a Natvie American elder as a tribute.

Kaepernick tweeted a video clip and wrote, “Spent the morning at the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony on the 50 year anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz. The US government has stolen over 1.5 billion acres of land from Indigenous people. Thank you to my Indigenous family, I’m with you today and always.”

”It’s been 50 years since the occupation. And that struggle has continued for that 50 years … It’s our responsibility to honor our ancestors and honor our elders by carrying on that struggle,” Kaepernick says in the video. “Don’t let their sacrifices be in vain. That’s why it’s important for all of us to be here today – to show that we’re together, that we’re unified, that we have that solidarity. And I hope to spend many more of these with you.”