As Thanksgiving approaches, you may begin to hear questions and comments about the history of the holiday, especially from children, that are not grounded in fact. The oft-told story of Thanksgiving is a myth of harmony and an erasure of genocide committed by settlers against the Wampanoag tribe in the 1600s. Thanksgiving has become a holiday celebrated during the Civil War, probably as a tactic for Abraham Lincoln to unite the North against a common enemy: the South. Indigenous peoples recognize this holiday in various ways. While some natives view Thanksgiving as a day of mourning, others gather with family and give thanks.
Thanksgiving has a dark history, often overlooked by mainstream society, that can be difficult to discuss with your children, students, friends, family, and others in your life. As we approach vacation conversations, it’s a good idea to start with a few things:
- An open mind
Talking about Thanksgiving is difficult because everyone has different views, emotions, and thoughts regarding the holiday.
As you strive to share your own knowledge and experiences, remember to also be open to the perspectives of others and listen to understand, not to respond.
- A complete understanding
Not enough people know about it what really happened on the first thanksgiving. The long-standing legend of “Smiling Pilgrims and Wampanoag happily enjoy a big meal together” has been completely debunked and light has been shed on the truth of what happened. Genocide of the Pilgrims of the Wampanoag tribe. In 1970, the United American Indians of New England declared Thanksgiving a holiday. National day of mourning. But other Native Americans and allies celebrate the holiday as part of a long cultural tradition of giving thanks.
There’s no way around it: The reality of Thanksgiving doesn’t exactly make for an easy conversation starter on a day that is largely about family, food, and gratitude for many Americans. But living in this country, we are all interconnected, and it is important to recognize this reality and teach the truth about the history of this holiday rather than telling the same harmful stories.
Disrupt myths and inaccuracies when you hear them. Rather than change the story people have heard, fill in the gaps. Raise awareness of the systematic displacement and violence against the indigenous peoples upon whom the United States was founded. Encourage people to look at the history of the land they inhabit –this map of indigenous lands is a wonderful educational tool to share. Let people know that Indigenous communities are not a thing of the past. Silence and misinformation about Indigenous people and the origins of our country is unfortunately all too common.
As you prepare to spend time with family and friends, here are some ideas to help you navigate these discussions:
- To ask questions.
A great approach to discussing or teaching Thanksgiving is to first ask questions to understand the person’s perspective on the holiday. These questions can serve as starting points for writing or discussion in class or at the table:
- Why is this holiday called Thanksgiving?
- What were people giving thanks for?
- What’s the other part of this story that isn’t usually told?
- What does this vacation mean to you?
- What, if anything, is difficult about the holidays for you?
- How might we reimagine our Thanksgiving celebration?
- How can we recognize the true story of Thanksgiving today and beyond?
- Be appropriate for your age.
Naturally, young children may not be ready to learn all the gruesome details of the Thanksgiving story. Instead, Bob Peterson, founder editor of Rethinking schools and co-editor of Rethinking Columbusshares, “you can redirect the conversation about Thanksgiving to what you are grateful for as a family.”
Once children reach age five or six, Peterson says you can share something like: “The Wampanoag people lived in Massachusetts for hundreds of years, but people from Europe came and took their land, and it wasn’t right. Older children can learn in-depth history.
Looking for ways to more specifically teach Thanksgiving in the classroom? One idea is to have students rewrite the story of Thanksgiving using historical documents and write a poem from the perspective of a person from that era. as Arlington Public School teacher Susannah Remillard asked her class to do. Children of all ages can learn this Harvest festivals were a part of Wampanoag life long before the 1621 “Thanksgiving Feast” with the settlers, and giving thanks is a daily practice for many indigenous peoples..
- Continue the conversation.
You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to discuss the truth. And once it’s over, continue the conversation and continue to learn and grow by researching, reading, and discussing history, colonialism, race, and privilege throughout the year.
Additional sources and resources:
The Real Story Behind Thanksgiving
How to Talk to Kids About Thanksgiving
10 Prompts for Talking and Writing About Thanksgiving
How to Tell Your Kids the Truth About Thanksgiving
A History of the Indigenous Peoples of the United States