When I first moved to America there was so much that I thought I knew through my studies of history and cultural studies, but I quickly realized I knew nothing at all. One aspect of American culture I learned to adjust to were all the holidays and how seriously they were taken and followed in the US. At first, the ideas of joy, family, culture, religion and everything in between seemed exciting, enticing and good. As I began to listen, observe and learn about them, I dug deeper into one that I always questioned from a far, Thanksgiving.

Initially what I experienced with my American friends and family who kindly invited me in and shared their traditions, was that it seemed to be a day when you spend time with your family. We talked, gave thanks, ate a lot of great food, and spent quality time together. On occasion we gave back to the community in some way through food donations or time. This seemed like such a great holiday and way to be with one another and with community. 

As the years passed, the more I researched the more I became aware of the deeply devastating roots and origins of this holiday.  Thanksgiving has been celebrated in America for almost four centuries, since the solemn dinner in November 1621. What has been told about that day has been based on some imaginary pedestal as a joyous day of peace between two worlds (the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the ancestors of the Mashpee Wampanoag). However, this narrative obscures what actually happened.  Whilst yes there was a feast between the pilgrims and Chief Massasoit and some of his people in 1621, what followed was a violent genocide. The reality was ‘English settlers cheated, abused, killed and eventually drove Wampanoags into conflict, leading to one of the most devastating wars in the history of North American settlement.’ (The New Yorker, Philip Deloria, November 18, 2019)

Today’s understanding of Thanksgiving was nationalized by Abraham Lincoln and was used to build nationalism among the American people, which sadly meant the continued genocide, erasure and disenfranchisement of Native/Indigenous people. For many Native/Indigenous people this day is noted as ‘A Day of Mourning’ and a time to center and support Indigenous survival in a world that sadly continues to twist their history and heritage.

With half of my own ancestry being British, I am even more determined to not only amplify and highlight the truth, but to also play my part in the reparations for the theft, massacre and trauma inflicted on so many people. The full realization of the extent of the damage and terror of these lands and the genocide to Native people by the British has given me the resolve to do my part in working towards a better tomorrow. We cannot talk and celebrate today without acknowledging the true history and origins of what the day represents. 

With that, fearlesshe is choosing instead to continue to learn, to shed light and do what we can in ensuring there is no more erasure and abuse of Indigenous voices, people and their land. Let’s find ways to still be in community and togetherness today, yet approach it with the full truth and understand of the continual impact today has on the Native/Indigenous people.

Below are some things you can do and resources to support:

• Understand and reflect on your ancestors role and how you may have contributed to, or been impacted by, the violence against Native people

• Learn whose stolen land you are on – check out here and learn about the Land Back Movement

• Read/learn and teach a friend/relative about Thanksgiving (articles as a starting place below)

• Support Native-owned businesses and artists (check out our womxn-owned business directory with some of our favorite Indigenous-owned places to shop from this holiday season).

• Celebrate Indigenous People – their survival and resistance to colonization; follow and amplify on social media; and also redistribute funds (to Native business and to the tribes of the land you now live on)

Wherever you are celebrating today in North America, remember you are on Indigenous land. For this holiday, we are asking ourselves and in turn everyone celebrating today to acknowledge, honor and be with gratitude. Acknowledge and respect the Native land you now reside on, whilst also celebrating the beauty of the present time of what Thanksgiving has now become…a time to eat great food, honor family heritage, show generosity and gratitude and be together with those who you love.

Whatever you are experiencing today, we honor you at that place. If you are struggling with this season, check out our resources page for mental health support, and/or drop us a message via email or our social channels, and we can share more community support during this holiday period.

Acknowledgements & resources for further learning

The above suggestions and resources below are from @dineaesthetics in partnership with reclaim collaborative, and from our own google searching. This is by no means an exhaustive list, please research further.

Articles

Here’s what I want my fellow Americans to know about Thanksgiving
The Invention of Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving Tale is a Harmful Lie
National Day of Mourning
Disbursing funds to Native American Tribes

Symbolic rent: Seattle residents pay reparations to Native American tribe

Resources/Sites

United American Indians of New England

Native Land Map
Native Land Acknowledgement
Land Back Movement