When Thanksgiving comes around, many of us are reminded of turkeys, gourds and the idea of gratitude. These classic Thanksgiving decorations are also accompanied by a tale of the “first Thanksgiving,” or when Native Americans and Pilgrims, who came from England on the Mayflower, peacefully feasted together at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in 1620.
This heartwarming tale is unfortunately far from historically accurate and forgoes the perspective of the resilient Native and Indigenous communities that were affected by colonization. This year, consider Thanksgiving a chance to focus on Native American teachings and ways to honor and celebrate Native American history instead.
The real Thanksgiving and Native American history|The real Thanksgiving and Native American history
How to celebrate Thanksgiving respectfully
Reframing Thanksgiving when it is deeply embedded into American culture can be difficult — especially when the way we celebrate it is so far from the historical roots. It can be intimidating, especially when the topics seem heavy for little ones. “Getting your child to understand the nuances of Thanksgiving history is not going to be a one-shot deal,” Amelia Kibbie wrote for Mom.com.
“These conversations need to happen over a period of years,” Kibbie continued. “It’s important to plant the seeds of understanding our country’s history with your children early on.” No matter what age your kids are, there’s an activity or lesson about the real history between white settlers and coloinizing North America.
1. Learn more about Indigenous culture and communities by watching documentaries about Native American history or reading books about Native American history. November is also Native American Heritage Month and a good time to learn more about Native American teachings and culture. The Library of Congress and other education institutions have webinars and other resources to check out. For little ones, check out this list of 100 children’s books about Native American history.
2. Make new traditions on how to celebrate Thanksgiving by not putting up decorations depicting stereotypical Native Americans and Pilgrims and instead focusing on gratitude. Being thankful is already a big part of Native American culture.
3. Stand up and educate others against harmful stereotypes or racism, like non-Native people wearing headdresses or offensive mascots. Instead, talk to your kids and spread knowledge to others about Native American culture or learn more about [Native Americans making a difference today.
4. Donate to an organization helping Native American people, such as the National Museum of the American Indian or the First Nations Development Institute.
5. Visit a museum of Native American history, like the Museum of the American Indian, which has locations in New York and Washington, D.C. If you want to do something more COVID-friendly, check out their online website.
