THANKSGIVING: It’s a myth

The Thanksgiving myth. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag DID NOT have the first Thanksgiving.

School plays about Thanksgiving is continuing the false narrative of its beginnings and perpetuates colonialism and ignores more than 400 years of atrocities committed against First Nations’ people. Many of us grew up with the myth of Pilgrims inviting Native Americans to a feast. To many First Nations people, it is considered a National Day of Mourning. This began after Frank “Wamsutta” James’ speaking invitation was rescinded from a Massachusetts Thanksgiving Day celebration commemorating the 350th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower.

The facts are 1) the Pilgrims were having a feast and fired their muskets in the air. The Wampanoag people thinking the Pilgrims were under attack came to help them defend themselves. It was then the Wampanoag were invited. 2) President Lincoln in 1863 declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. 3) Lincoln thought it would improve relations between the South and the North AND improve relations between the U.S. and the tribal nations. In 1862, there was a mass execution of Dakota-Sioux members because they dared to fight back against corrupt federal agents who had withheld food and provisions. The Dakota-Sioux were on the brink of death from starvation when they fought back. Think of Thanksgiving as a day in which families come together to share a meal.

JUANA PERLEY

Coeur d’Alene