Indigenous Perspectives on Thanksgiving

Please allow yourself 30-45 min to explore: pick one or 2 items you feel drawn to read from each of these three sections.   Prepared by Bonnie Sundance, RightRelationshipBoulder.org

I. Articles regarding the importance of Indigenous perspectives and history re Thanksgiving

Of  many articles these were chosen to highlight-- not in any order,

–https://www.parentmap.com/article/a-native-american-perspective-on-the-thanksgiving-story  A Native American Perspective on the Thanksgiving Story from a Dine woman, MORONI BENALLY : Nov. 11, 2020 the unsettling truth that parents can share with children

–https://www.seattleschild.com/this-thanksgiving-educate-your-family-about-native-history-and-culture/  This Thanksgiving, educate your family about Native history and culture by Brooke Pinkham (Yakama Nation) updated NOVEMBER 25, 2021 You've heard that Native people aren't terribly fond of this holiday. Try to understand why.--an honest, personal reflection.

–https://blog.nativehope.org/what-does-thanksgiving-mean-to-native-americans     covers basic pieces from a native perspective and offers a 2 min. youtube "Native American Girls describe the Real History Behind  Thanksgiving" with a shocking ending (I found difficult.)

2. Lesson Plans and Books for Teachers and parents of the "new narrative"

--Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story  https://keepunumuk.com/

Authors, Danielle Greendeer  Anthony Perry Alexis Bunten,  Garry Meeches (Illustrator)    Alexis offers a webinar:  learning activities, arts and crafts designed to teach young children about the importance of sharing, valuing nature, animal behavior, the three sisters,..., with a reading, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUJoqf43mFQ&t=1s

--https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/decolonizing-thanksgiving-a-toolkit-for-combatting-racism-in-schools-5d4e3023a2f8  Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combatting Racism in Schools by Lindsey Passenger Wieck Nov 11, 2018  8 min. Read

--https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/decolonizing-thanksgiving-toolkit-part-ii-indigenous-peoples-today-680864ab57cf   Decolonizing Thanksgiving Toolkit Part II: Indigenous Peoples Today    Great review of a number of children's books  by   Lindsey Passenger Wieck Nov 8, 2021  6 min read

--https://drive.google.com/file/d/113P9h7Muz-3UDYExlJHqrPyDIACUtRND/view from CO Dept. Ed: American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving --comprehensive 10 pages in depth discussion of Native American cultural values related to the Thanksgiving story.  Well done.

--https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgiving  One page info and resources for parents and teachers to share with students.

--https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/teaching-thanksgiving-in-a-socially-responsible-way    Teaching Thanksgiving in a Socially Responsible Way by AMANDA MORRIS   Nov. 10, 2015

--https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Indian%20Education%20101/Native_American_Heritage_Month_2022.pdf?ver=2022-10-31-080242-227   See:   Resources for Teaching About Thanksgiving   (6 items)    from Montana's Indian Education for All   NOTE 10/23/23 404 - File or directory not found response

--https://plimoth.org/for-students/you-are-the-historian (takes minutes to download) You are the Historian Game:  Recommended for students to do at home and share with their families.  Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ popular interactive game explores Wampanoag life prior to European settlement. Fact-based history told from both an Indigenous and Colonial perspective.  Additional digital and primary resources for teachers https://plimoth.org/for-teachers/teacher-tools

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hn1OHodGfYO9dzK3WbIf7cyH6byztVq6NO1WGS2ZU8I/edit   A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving    for Educators and Families    Compiled - The Center for Racial Justice in Education

https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Social%20Studies/6-8/1621%20A%20New%20Look%20at%20Thanksgiving.pdf  1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving from Montana Office of Public Instruction provides a more accurate understanding of the historical events that surround the popular narrative of the first Thanksgiving; lesson plan grades 6-8.

3. More Indigenous Perspectives --Giving Thanks and Harvest Festivals –Indigenous approaches, including the Day of Mourning.

--https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2019/11/27/do-american-indians-celebrate-thanksgiving/       from National Museum of American Indian   article:    Do American Indians Celebrate Thanksgiving?    How do Native Americans make peace with a national holiday that romanticizes the 1621 encounter between their ancestors and English settlers, and erases the deadly conflicts that followed?     by Dennis Zotigh  

--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vHVxr7txqU&t=223s video   Lyla June speaking on the importance of telling the truth about Thanksgiving to learn from our mistakes:  10 min.

--Thanksgiving--a Day of Mourning for Many Indigenous Communities   Nov. 24, 2021   https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/thanksgiving-day-mourning-many-indigenous-communities  Excellent article and 7 hour live stream video of the Day of Mourning 2021

--https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/8-ways-decolonize-and-honor-native-peoples-thanksgiving   8 Ways to Decolonize and Honor Native Peoples on Thanksgiving   Nov. 21,  2018  Thanksgiving is an opportunity to also go beyond the harmful “pilgrims and Indians” narrative and focus on common values:  generosity, gratitude, and community.

–https://americanindian.si.edu/environment/pdf/01_02_Thanksgiving_Address.pdf  Thanksgiving Address