The Great Falls Tribune surveyed more than 40 Indigenous people across 12 tribes about their thoughts on Thanksgiving.
The first Thanksgiving is generally regarded in history as a friendly gathering among pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe. But as we learned from Eryn Dion in last year’s edition of This is America, the first Thanksgiving actually has a fraught history, as the pilgrims later violated their agreements and attacked and encroached upon Wampanoag lands. This brutality was not uncommon — upon arrival in America, Europeans broke promises and inflicted violence, disease and assimilation against Native people nationwide for generations. I’m Nora Mabie, a reporter focusing on Indigenous communities for the Great Falls Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network. And, of course, you’re reading This is America, a newsletter about race, identity and how it shapes our lives. The question we pose this edition: What do Native Americans think about Thanksgiving? The Great Falls Tribune surveyed more than 40 Indigenous people across 12 tribes. For some, Thanksgiving is a day to honor ancestors and be with family; for others, it’s a stark reminder of oppression. (Responses are edited for length and clarity). Kasey Salois,24, Blackfeet and Little Shell: Thanksgiving may have started out with the pilgrims, but we have made it our own. We can’t change the past but we can’t let it define us either. This holiday is less about celebrating the past for us and instead celebrating what we have and what we can look forward to. We do a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and we have a lot to be thankful for. Jason Rosette,45, Chippewa Cree: Thanksgiving means eating with your family, and because of that, I’m grateful. But I feel the truth needs to be told about how America was really founded. It was founded on the murder of my ancestors and the robbery of our land. The only way we can overcome historical trauma is by teaching the truth in schools. David Coldwell,63, Blackfeet: I used to celebrate, but I no longer will.
