Hey y’all, Jackie here with a special edition of The Breakdown! We’re also skipping Friday’s newsletter because Anthony and I will be knee-deep in Thanksgiving food by then (Salvadoran panes rellenos in my case).
Maybe it’s just the season to be in my feelings, but I feel so grateful for DoSomething members like you, who give me hope for the future even (and sometimes especially) when things in the news feel real dark. Thank you for inspiring me every day.
This holiday, while you’re practicing gratitude, you can also educate friends on the real history of Thanksgiving, and help support Native communities too.
Let’s Do This! Jackie
Truthsgiving: The True History of Thanksgiving And how you can support Native communities this holiday.
Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, good food, and giving thanks. So as we gather with family, crush unworldly amounts of stuffing, and enjoy a football game in the crisp autumn air, let's also acknowledge the real history of the holiday and practice gratitude by giving back.
This year, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving and also Truthsgiving, a concept coined by Indigenous activist Christine Nobiss to dismantle common misunderstandings about Thanksgiving with...well, the truth. So in the name of Truthsgiving, here’s the true history of this holiday (and what you can do about it).
We'd like to thank IllumiNative for their collaboration on this piece and for providing resources and campaigns that increase the visibility of Native Nations and peoples in American society.
What’s the Real Story of Thanksgiving?
“The Pilgrims had hardly explored the shores of Cape Cod for four days before they had robbed the graves of my ancestors and stolen their corn and beans.” - Wamsutta Frank James, Wampanoag activist and organizer of the National Day of Mourning
The “first Thanksgiving,” as a lot of folks understand it, was in 1621 between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag* tribe in present-day Massachusetts. While records indicate that this celebration did happen, there are a few misconceptions we need to clear up. Because of the erasure (in other words, removal and exclusion) of Native American narratives from the histories a lot of us were taught, we’ve been left with an incomplete picture of what really happened. So here’s the full story.
*Today, the Wampanoag make up two federally recognized tribes, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
Why Haven’t I Heard This Before?
“Many students still complete an American education unsure about the place of Native people in the nation’s past—or in its present.” - Phillip Deloria, Harvard professor and scholar of Native American history
Here’s the other thing to keep in mind: Native people are a part of the past, and they’re also very much a part of our country’s present (and future). About 87% of state-level history standards don’t mention Native American history after 1900, but Native American people have had a huge impact on contemporary US society. Take, for example, Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate, the young Indigenous activists who are fighting for their communities, and the record number of lawmakers bringing Native representation to government.
Why Does It Matter?
“To me, Thanksgiving is a reminder of our resistance as Indigenous People navigating this settler society that continuously tries to erase and destroy us, yet we are still here.” - Allen Salway, writer and community organizer from the Navajo Nation
What Can I Do?
“It’s past time to honor the Indigenous resistance, tell our story as it really happened, and undo romanticized notions of the holiday that have long suppressed our perspective." - Christine Nobiss, Indigenous activist and Decolonizer with Seed Sovereignty
Some folks skip Thanksgiving altogether and opt for Native-led events, like the National Day of Mourning held in Plymouth since 1970 or the Indigenous People Sunrise Ceremony held in California since 1969.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving by feasting with family, watching the parade, and going back for seconds (...or thirds), there are also some simple, impactful things you can do to help combat Native erasure this holiday.
Take Action: Learn how to support Native communities this Thanksgiving and beyond.
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