Thanksgiving is a time where we all just gather with our family and friends. However, it does have some problematic roots. When I was younger, I was taught that Pilgrims and Indigenous peoples had a lovely feast together after the Native Americans taught them how to grow their food in the 1620s.
However, some historians consider 1637 to be the true origin of Thanksgiving as John Winthrop declared a holiday to celebrate the soldiers who murdered many of the Pequot people. As both incidents occurred in New England, it is necessary to acknowledge both of them. While this day might be a day of giving thanks to our loved ones, it may also be a day for others to mourn. Therefore, it is important to be supportive and open-minded during this time.
- Learn About the Actual History
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As a result of colonization, Indigenous peoples were violently displaced from their homes. It is extremely necessary to acknowledge how Native Americans have been oppressed throughout our history. Furthermore, our history books have been whitewashed and erased a large part of Indigenous history. You should also do some research about who’s land you are on. Here are a couple of articles to help:
- Listen to Indigenous voices
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You can follow Indigenous organizations on social media to be up to date with current issues and support them. Furthermore, you can listen to Indigenous voices within your community and amplify their voices. Here are a couple of Indigenous social media accounts to follow:
- Native Wellness Institute
- The Indigenous Foundation
- Indigenous Peoples Movement
- Michelle Chubb
- Lance Tsosie
- Eat locally-sourced food
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Most Thanksgiving food is store-bought. I strongly suggest against this because corporations, such as Nestle, steal water and necessities from Indigenous peoples. How can we celebrate true thankfulness without knowing where our food has come from? The original Thanksgiving consisted of food that was sourced from that area. For instance, in Virginia, the feast consisted of oysters and ham. You can even try to buy your goods from Indigenous farmers around the area. This is also known as decolonizing your diet, and here is a couple of links for tips:
- Identify and aid with modern issues
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As we have gained more accessibility to each other, we can see what struggles exist throughout our nation. Indigenous peoples struggle with food insecurity and food deserts, Hawaii is illegally occupied and proposed pipelines have disrupted Native lands. We can simply just speak out against these things and stand with Indigenous people. There are also a couple of places we can donate listed below:
In no way am I saying that we should never celebrate Thanksgiving, but I am saying that we should acknowledge the holiday’s roots and support those who have faced oppression due to colonization. Personally, Thanksgiving has always been a day of gathering with loved ones. However, it can also be a day of learning and supporting others.
I believe that for all of us to grow, we must acknowledge past wrongs and at least try to learn from them. And of course, I realize that the first Thanksgiving was hundreds of years ago, but the consequences of colonization on the Indigenous community are irrefutable. Therefore, I hope you all have a wonderful and decolonized Thanksgiving.