Rethinking Thanksgiving: Honoring Native Perspectives and Debunking Myths

Audio Article

Spending time with family and expressing gratitude are important aspects of Thanksgiving. However, it is equally important to acknowledge and understand the true history behind the holiday, moving beyond the commonly accepted myth of a harmonious feast.

By exploring Thanksgiving History, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the historical context, including the foods that were originally part of the celebration and the complex relationships between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

The Traditional Thanksgiving Narrative

The “First Thanksgiving” is often portrayed as a harmonious feast in November 1621, where Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered to celebrate a successful harvest. This oversimplified version omits many critical details.

The story begins with the Mayflower’s arrival in 1620. Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, landed at Plymouth. After surviving the first winter, they learned agricultural techniques from the Wampanoag, primarily through Squanto, a Pawtuxet who had learned English after being enslaved and escaping. This formed the basis for their first harvest celebration. The meal likely included:

• Deer
• Corn
• Shellfish
• Roasted meat

This differs from today’s turkey-centric feast.

Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential editor, played a significant role in shaping Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Her campaign led to President Abraham Lincoln declaring a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863.

This account largely omits the Wampanoag perspective. For nearly a century before the Pilgrims’ arrival, Europeans had been exploring, trading, and engaging in conflicts with Native tribes. When the Pilgrims arrived, the Wampanoag observed and eventually decided to aid them, mainly for strategic alliances rather than budding friendship. The celebrated cooperation was short-lived, with increasing tension and conflict following.

Recently, there has been a push to understand and recognize the true history. Thanksgiving isn’t just a day of gratitude for many Native Americans; it symbolizes mourning and protest. The National Day of Mourning, held on Thanksgiving, acknowledges the genocide, land theft, and cultural assault faced by Native peoples.

Long before 1621, Native tribes like the Wampanoag had their own harvest festivals and traditions of giving thanks integrated into their daily life. These traditions emphasize gratitude for the earth’s bounty, community, and natural resources, a practice deep-rooted and continues today.

Education on Thanksgiving should include diverse sources that represent accurate, culturally specific portrayals of Native people. Celebrating Thanksgiving with awareness and respect acknowledges the history and fosters a more comprehensive understanding of this nuanced holiday.

Debunking the Thanksgiving Myth

The commonly accepted account of Thanksgiving, portraying a harmonious celebration between Pilgrims and Native Americans, emerged primarily in the mid-1800s. Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential editor, played a key role in shaping this narrative and establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

However, this idealized story overlooks many critical and complex elements of the actual history. The Pilgrims’ and Wampanoag’s relationship was initially a pragmatic alliance rather than pure friendship. The Wampanoag, led by Chief Massasoit, decided to assist the struggling settlers for strategic reasons.

Often Overlooked Facts:

• Pilgrims looted Wampanoag graves
• Settlers stole food supplies from Native Americans
• Post-Thanksgiving relations were marked by increasing tension and conflict

One of the most significant conflicts that followed was King Philip’s War (1675-1678), one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history.

In debunking the Thanksgiving myth, it’s important to recognize that the simplified account disregards the Wampanoag’s long history of giving thanks, a tradition practiced for centuries before the Pilgrims’ arrival. A more accurate retelling of Thanksgiving’s history requires acknowledging the complexity of these early interactions and incorporating diverse sources to foster a more inclusive understanding of this significant holiday.

The Wampanoag Perspective of Thanksgiving

The Wampanoag people had a rich cultural heritage and lived for thousands of years in what is now southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island before the arrival of the Pilgrims. When the settlers landed in 1620, the Wampanoagalready suffered significant disruptions due to diseases brought earlier by European explorers and traders.

Interactions between the Wampanoag and the settlers were initially rooted in practicality and mutual necessity. The Wampanoag, under Chief Massasoit, formed an alliance with the Pilgrims for strategic reasons, including strengthening their position against rival tribes.

Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been previously captured and taken to Europe, played a crucial role as an interpreter and intermediary. He taught the Pilgrims essential agricultural practices, part of the Wampanoag’s broader strategy to stabilize their region amid European encroachment.

“The shared meal in 1621, often referred to as the ‘First Thanksgiving,’ was a moment of cooperation, but it was far from the beginning of a long-term peaceful relationship.”

Subsequent conflicts and misunderstandings arose, partly due to differing worldviews and ways of life between the settlers and Native tribes.

As more settlers arrived, claiming lands and resources, tensions grew. This culminated in events like King Philip’s War (1675-1678), a brutal conflict that significantly altered the balance of power in the region.

Understanding the Wampanoag perspective reveals a story of resilience, struggle, and survival. It encourages us to move beyond simplified accounts and recognize the strategic decisions and sacrifices made by the Wampanoag and other Native tribes during immense upheaval.

Native American Harvest Traditions

Cranberry Day, celebrated by the Aquinnah Wampanoag in October, is a time for community members to gather cranberries, share stories, and enjoy activities together. This tradition emphasizes the importance of respecting and maintaining the natural environment.

The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, practiced by the Iroquois Confederacy, is another significant tradition. Known as the “Words That Come Before All Else,” it is recited at various gatherings to express gratitude for all elements of the natural world. This address acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of maintaining harmony with nature.

Both Cranberry Day and the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address underscore longstanding Native traditions of gratitude that are still practiced today. These traditions present an opportunity to broaden our understanding of gratitude beyond the context of Thanksgiving and provide a more inclusive account that honors Native American contributions and cultural resilience.

Native American Children’s Literature on Gratitude and Harvest:

• Berry Song by Michaela Goade
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
• We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
• When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger

As educators, we should select books and other materials that feature accurate and tribally specific portrayals of Native people, both past and present. It’s crucial to avoid adopting “Native” costumes or crafts in classrooms, as these often perpetuate stereotypes and misunderstandings of Native cultures.

Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning observed concurrently with Thanksgiving, is a reminder of the historical hardships faced by Native American tribes since European settlers arrived. This day is about remembering the enduring legacies of loss and cultural erosion that Native communities continue to experience.

European settlers’ arrival in North America led to significant consequences for Native peoples:

• The spread of diseases like smallpox, to which Native tribes lacked immunity, decimated populations.
• Violent conflicts followed as English settlers sought land and resources, displacing Native tribes.

The Pequot Massacre in 1637 stands as one of the most severe episodes of violence. During this conflict, English settlers attacked a Pequot village, killing hundreds of men, women, and children. Such events were part of a systematic effort to subjugate Native populations to facilitate colonial expansion.

These early conflicts laid the groundwork for centuries of oppression and marginalization. Policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830 forcibly relocated thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. The establishment of reservations further stripped Native tribes of their autonomy and land.

The National Day of Mourning, introduced by the United American Indians of New England in 1970, acknowledges these histories and honors the resilience of Native peoples. This day serves as a counter-story to the traditional Thanksgiving tale, highlighting the ongoing struggles for rights, recognition, and reparations.

Contemporary Native Americans continue to face challenges rooted in historical injustices:

• Many reservations grapple with poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, and high rates of unemployment.
• Native Americans often face systemic racism and cultural stereotypes.

Despite these challenges, Native communities persist with resilience. Efforts to reclaim cultural heritage, preserve languages, and assert sovereignty continue. Movements like the Dakota Access Pipeline protests exemplify the ongoing struggle for Native rights and environmental justice.

Acknowledging the National Day of Mourning encourages a more comprehensive understanding of Thanksgiving. It reminds us to consider the impact of colonization while recognizing the enduring spirit of Native American communities.

Gratitude Journals and Thanksgiving

Creating a gratitude journal is a way for students to integrate the themes of Thanksgiving with a personal practice of reflection and appreciation. By keeping a gratitude journal, students can cultivate a habit of mindfulness and deepen their understanding of Thanksgiving beyond the traditional story.

Steps to Create a Gratitude Journal:

1. Materials Needed:
   • A notebook or journal
   • Pens or pencils
   • Optional: Art supplies to personalize the journal
2. Daily Entry Guidelines:
   • Write at least one or two things to be grateful for each day.
3. Write entries at a consistent time each day to make it a habit.

Themes to Explore:

• Personal Gratitude: Reflect on aspects of daily life like family, friends, school, and achievements.
• Historical Awareness: Include entries that connect to the broader themes of Thanksgiving and Native American history.
• Seasonal Changes: Write about the fall season and the harvest.

Example Entries:

Personal Gratitude:

• “I appreciate my teacher for helping me understand the math homework.”
• “Today, I am grateful for my family who always supports me.”

Historical Awareness:

• “I am thankful for the chance to learn about the Wampanoag people and their traditions.”

Seasonal Changes:

• “I am grateful for the colorful leaves in our yard and the fun we had raking them.”

Expanding Gratitude Entries:

• Add drawings, poems, or photographs to entries to make them more personal and expressive.
• Include prompts that deepen reflections, such as:
  • “What did you learn today that made you appreciate the world around you?”
  • “How can you show gratitude to someone who has helped you?”

Integrating Gratitude with Learning:

Gratitude journals help students connect their reflections to their broader understanding of Thanksgiving. This practice allows them to appreciate the historical context and the present moments in their lives. Here are some specific examples and prompts to guide their entries:

• Gratitude for Historical Lessons:
  • “I am thankful for learning about Squanto and his contributions to helping the Pilgrims. It made me appreciate the importance of kindness and support.”
  • “Today, I read about Cranberry Day. I’m grateful for the Aquinnah Wampanoag’s dedication to their traditions, which reminds me to cherish my own family’s traditions.”itude for Personal Experiences:
  • “I am grateful for the time I spent with my grandparents this weekend. Listening to their stories helped me understand more about my family history.”

Gratitude for the Environment:

• “I am thankful for the beautiful nature walk we took as a class. Observing the changes in the season made me feel connected to the earth, just like the Native American traditions we learned about.”
• “Collecting fall leaves for our art project reminded me of the Wampanoag’s respect for nature, and I feel grateful for the environment that sustains us.”

Incorporating gratitude journals into the classroom allows students to practice gratitude, reflect on historical lessons, and connect with the themes of Thanksgiving on a deeper level.

Recognizing the full history of Thanksgiving, including the experiences and perspectives of Native Americans, fosters a more inclusive and respectful commemoration. By acknowledging these aspects, we can honor their contributions and resilience while expanding our understanding of this holiday.