Where to begin. Oh, yes.
Racial and cultural stereotypes. Romanticized misinformation. Seductive mythology.
Historical distortions.
Shall I continue?
Lots of people have corrected the misinformation over the
years, quite publicly, and yet we still see “the first Thanksgiving” being
taught to kids in schools fully focused on everything in my opening lines, from
war bonnets and fringed loin cloths, to noble Europeans feasting openly in
friendship with the noble “Indians.” Did you know that the colonists may have raided the
Wampanoag food cache just to survive that first winter? That’s not friendly or
neighborly; it’s desperate. But instead of punishing these white-faced morons,
the Wampanoag taught them better planting techniques and skills the following
spring so that they would stop raiding their winter food stores. (Feeling the
Thanksgiving love yet?)
Read this for more information about the truth of why that
first “thanksgiving” event was indeed a happy one.
Singular perspective.
The story of the “first” mythological “Thanksgiving” is
always, always, always told from the European Pilgrim perspective, never from
the Native American perspective. Not only is this wrong, it is disingenuous and
irresponsible. Try this story on for size - Happy Thanksgiving: An American Indian Perspective.
If you are a parent and you know that your kid’s school is perpetuating this myth and the accompanying stereotypes, then you are responsible to correct this misinformation. Call the school. Complain. Ask for the Native American perspective to be included in the lessons. Talk about why Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning for many indigenous peoples in this land, instead of a day filled with jubilant overeating and family goofiness. Ask that the students be exposed to some of the original documents from that time period so they can get a more accurate picture instead of fantasy images that have no connection with reality. Case in point:
If you are a parent and you know that your kid’s school is perpetuating this myth and the accompanying stereotypes, then you are responsible to correct this misinformation. Call the school. Complain. Ask for the Native American perspective to be included in the lessons. Talk about why Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning for many indigenous peoples in this land, instead of a day filled with jubilant overeating and family goofiness. Ask that the students be exposed to some of the original documents from that time period so they can get a more accurate picture instead of fantasy images that have no connection with reality. Case in point:
"Indians are dead, right? A thing of the past?"
When I teach Contemporary Indigenous Rhetorics, or talk to people, even casually, about this subject, the reaction is sadly often reflective of this statement. I'm taking liberties and being blunt, but this is the assumption: Native peoples WERE, not ARE. They existed in the past - the past celebrated by this ridiculous holiday that doesn't "honor" anyone. Rather, this holiday only serves to relegate these vibrant, real, present peoples to a past steeped in Euroamerican myths and misconceptions.
We even apologize badly.
Did you know that every year since 1990, the U.S. President
has issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring November to be Native American Heritage Month.
On one hand, it is a positive rhetorical move. On the other, there is no practical action attached to it, which essentially makes the gesture moot. Be honest. Did you even KNOW about this proclamation? Even if you did know, what do you do to celebrate real Native peoples and cultures this month? And don't say "celebrate Thanksgiving." Some schools and towns might hold a "Native American Festival" for a day or a weekend and invite regional tribal peoples and groups to hold dances and traditional craft demonstrations. Good stuff, right? Wrong. We are keeping over 500 federally recognized tribes buried in the past because we can't be bothered to question and reverse our comfortable "truth."
The past is present.
One of my favorite Ojibwe comedians, Jim Ruel, had a great bit in one of his comedy shows (wait, you're thinking, Indians aren't FUNNY?! And they have stand-up comics?! Whaaa? It's ok. I'll give you a moment to watch this clip and then I'll continue with the story):
Anyway, the bit involves physical gestures that ends with the classic middle finger. His friend asks him if Indians celebrate Thanksgiving and Jim responds, "We do. We call it You're Welcome Day."
Manifest attitude.
From the hideous days of Manifest Destiny when white Euroamericans made it their mission to take everything from Native peoples, from food, clothing, and culture, to ceremonies, identity, land, and life, to today when us white Euroamericans continue this oppression by simply ignoring and not even having the courtesy to acknowledge this devastating reality connected to our "day of thanks" national holiday.
It is disgraceful. And we are culpable. We should care. We could try harder. Maybe it's time for more of us to feel distinctly uncomfortable with this reality and share these facts with our friends and families. Share this post - that's a start. Go ahead and stuff yourself and play silly board games and love Mom's pumpkin pie...but take a moment to acknowledge the truth behind this holiday.
Knowing is the first step.
Harvest feast celebrations have always existed with human populations; but our time to celebrate should also include honoring the truth of the past and acknowledging that Native American peoples still exist as vital, modern cultures who practice traditional beliefs while surviving and thriving. Educate yourself, share the knowledge, and be thankful that you are no longer perpetuating a lie or continuing a stereotyped myth.
Sharing the knowledge is a better beginning.
From the hideous days of Manifest Destiny when white Euroamericans made it their mission to take everything from Native peoples, from food, clothing, and culture, to ceremonies, identity, land, and life, to today when us white Euroamericans continue this oppression by simply ignoring and not even having the courtesy to acknowledge this devastating reality connected to our "day of thanks" national holiday.
It is disgraceful. And we are culpable. We should care. We could try harder. Maybe it's time for more of us to feel distinctly uncomfortable with this reality and share these facts with our friends and families. Share this post - that's a start. Go ahead and stuff yourself and play silly board games and love Mom's pumpkin pie...but take a moment to acknowledge the truth behind this holiday.
Knowing is the first step.
Harvest feast celebrations have always existed with human populations; but our time to celebrate should also include honoring the truth of the past and acknowledging that Native American peoples still exist as vital, modern cultures who practice traditional beliefs while surviving and thriving. Educate yourself, share the knowledge, and be thankful that you are no longer perpetuating a lie or continuing a stereotyped myth.
Sharing the knowledge is a better beginning.
2 comments:
I always enjoy reading your posts on indigenous peoples because the passion is so vibrant and palpable. What I get from this specific post (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that (for now) we don't have to give up a day in the year that has really become increasingly symbolic for individual families. But in the midst of all that family symbolism and tradition, we should at least be aware of the horrific and appalling roots from where this day springs. Did I get it?
What I would like to ask you is...once we are aware...then what? You have certainly given me some food for thought for what I can do to help correct my own children's education (I have already accepted my destiny to be that parent at school). But what do I do about my family? I tried the educational tack last year and the year before that...and I was summarily shut down. Like, it almost became a thing. I realize that not wanting to upset people is no reason to keep one's mouth shut, but when upsetting those people can actually serve to ruin relationships...it gives me pause. Is there another route I can take to help my family? Or should I give up on the established family traditions and just focus on what my future family will do?
Here's the thing. I agree with you that knowing is incredibly important, but I am never personally satisfied with simple awareness. I feel like it isn't enough. (For instance: breast cancer awareness. Well, I'm aware. Now what?) Do you have any recommendations or suggestions for someone who isn't eager to give up the family symbolism and tradition...but who also doesn't want to participate in the oppression of history?
Yes, AHab, that is exactly right- no need to give up the day, but incorporate actual knowledge into it. That being said, I know exactly what you're talking about- I run into that with family A LOT...the close-minded resistance of some is infuriating, but a fact. In these situations, I would argue that a simple infusion of awareness...such as saying, "did you know that the Pilgrims raided Wampanoag food stores to survive their first winter?" Might be enough. That might result in a quaetion, which suddenly becomes a conversation. More often than not, however, I've found that this isn't the right audience for the message...so, if you have a cousin who is curious and open-minded, start there, not with the entire family in the open. Talk to friends. Read/watch/listen to Native speakers/artists/writers, and then introduce others to them - suggest a movie, a book, a musician. Include a Native American author in your classrooms. Reach the people who can be reached...the rest have walls up and will only serve to frustrate you. Believe it or not, with Native American issues, awareness and just knowing can actually do a lot. Case in point: just based on this post, a friend wrote to me and said he was sick of being so ignorant about Native peoples even though he has a Master's degress, so he bought himself some books and is educating himself. That's positive action resulting from a blog post that asks people to be more aware...awareness is powerful stuff, my friend. Take that one step and those who are curious will follow. Don't worry about or push the others. ;)
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