NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick spent the holiday celebrating with crowds at the annual Indigenous People Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz Island.

The former San Francisco 49ers' quarterback made a surprise appearance Thursday to the commemoration honoring 'Indians of All Tribes' who took part in the Occupation of Alcatraz back in 1969-71.

The football star took to hisTwitter page to share some memorable moments from the event.

Colin Kaepernick made a surprise appearance at the Alcatraz Indigenous People's Sunrise Gathering on Thursday

A tradition since 1975, the annual dawn festivities, also known as Unthanksgiving Day, commemorate the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by American Indians

89 American Indian activists and leaders occupied the island and former penitentiary with the demands that it be turned into an Indian cultural center and school

Kaepernick proudly shared details on the event to his Twitter page Thursday

Kaepernick said he joined 'in solidarity with those celebrating their culture and paying respects' while also 'in an effort to force America to honor the Treaty of Fort Laramie.'

He said in his speech: 'I realize that our fight is the same fight. We're all fighting for our justice, for our freedom, and realizing that we're in this fight together makes it all the more powerful.

'If there's one thing that I take away from today and seeing the beauty of everybody out here, it's that we're only getting stronger every day, we're only getting larger and larger every day. I see the strength in everybody.'

'Today, I was on Alcatraz Island at the Indigenous People?s Sunrise Gathering, in solidarity with those celebrating their culture and paying respects,' he said

Kaepernick delivered a message of resistance and hope to the thousands gathered on the island

'If there's one thing that I take away from today and seeing the beauty of everybody out here' he added

He added: 'The dancing, the rituals – that is our resistance. We continue to fight. We continue to fight for justice. We fight for our freedom, and we continue on that path.'

Kaepernick, 30, has been the center of attention during games in recent months after he began kneeling instead of standing during the national anthem as a way to protest racial inequality and police brutality.

The demonstration sparked an ongoing wave of NFL protests by players during the anthem that have been repeatedly denounced by President Donald Trump.

'The dancing, the rituals – that is our resistance. We continue to fight. We continue to fight for justice. We fight for our freedom, and we continue on that path,' Kaepernick said

Crowds continued to dance and sing Thursday during the annual Alcatraz gathering

Kaepernick parted ways with the 49ers in March and hasn't been signed by another team.

Earlier this month, the football star was named GQ's magazine's 'Citizen of the Year' for his activism.

Kaepernick said on Twitter he was 'honored' by the recognition, but refused a formal interview.

The magazine included comments from several of Kaepernick's supporters and confidants.

Rapper J. Cole says Kaepernick 'sacrificed his dream' to stand for something.

Ninety-year-old singer and activist Harry Belafonte says seeing people like Kaepernick taking action is 'the greatest reward' he could ask for.