From the EmbraceRace newsletter:
The "First Thanksgiving" myth is part of centuries-long U.S. settler-colonial efforts to disappear Indigenous peoples and perspectives - both contemporary and historical. Countering those forces with children must be ongoing and year-round for Indigenous and non-Indigenous families. (Resources to help you do that follow.)
At the same time, the "Thanksgiving" holiday itself is an opportunity for those of us in the lives of children to counter the "work" of the "First Thanksgiving" myth by reframing gratitude. Harvest feasts and other traditions of gratitude are fairly universal among humans. The diverse traditions of Native peoples that center gratitude are widespread and predate contact with colonists.
Please see below to find resources that center Indigenous Perspectives:
Sites to bookmark
- American Indians in Children's Literature - blog by Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambe Pueblo)
- Native Education for All - K-8 classroom resources from Native-run organization, Illuminative
- Oyate.org - Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed with honesty and integrity, and that all people know that our stories belong to us.
Specific Day of Mourning/"Thanksgiving" Day resources
- Why it's important to tell kids the truth about Thanksgiving: 'We are perpetuating harmful stereotypes'
- Everyone’s history matters: The Wampanoag Indian Thanksgiving story deserves to be known
- Do American Indians Celebrate Thanksgiving?
- Deconstructing the Myths of the 'First Thanksgiving'
Some EmbraceRace resources
- How to choose excellent children's books by and about American Indians by Debbie Reese
- Using the Book Water Protectors to talk about Indigenous identity - video with Nicol Russell
- Building inclusive communities and strong Indigenous youth - action guide by Souta Calling Last and Tyler Walls, Indigenous Visions
Comments (0)