OTAN News

Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving

The myth of the Thanksgiving story “sparked in the mid-1800s when English accounts of the 1621 harvest event resurfaced and fueled the American imagination.” President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to celebrate gratitude during the Civil War.

Largely absent from the national story is the perspective of the Wampanoag voice. Their voice along with neighboring Native nations has been largely absent. As educators, “we should select books and other materials which feature accurate and tribally specific portrayals of Native people both past and present.” Oftentimes, projects and crafts “that attempt to adapt or copy Native traditions often perpetuate stereotypes and misunderstandings of Native cultures.” Here are some culturally sensitive educator resources from the National Museum of the American Indian.

Cranberry Day: Traditional Harvest Festivals

The "First Thanksgiving": How Can WE Tell a Better Story?

Harvest Ceremony: Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth: Teacher’s Guide

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