A Day of Thanks, Or a Day of Mourning?

I'm reading a book right now called Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice. 

I think it's a timely novel since, to me, it feels relevant to our current situation: apocalyptic, a slow burn to the end.

But it's also timely because Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the novel centers on the Anishinaabe community, a group of indigenous people that includes various tribes from the U.S. and Canada. 

Starting in elementary school, we only learn about that first Thanksgiving Day; where pilgrims and Indians came together for a friendly meal. But the origin story of America is largely a myth, and one we only began to question in recent years, and then, only once we reach high school and college.

In reality, the coming of the white people was an apocalypse for the Native Americans. As Aileen, the oldest community member in the novel says; “Yes, apocalypse. We've had that over and over. But we always survived. We're still here. And we'll still be here, even if the power and the radios don't come back on and we never see any white people again.”

For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the slaughter, and displacement of millions of their descendants. Some celebrate the day not as one of thanks, but instead have declared it National Day of Mourning.

Now that my eyes have been opened to what this day represents for so many others, I will celebrate with this in mind. The day has been turned upside down by the pandemic, with no outside family or friends coming, but we will make it a holiday. The change gives us an opportunity to create some new, "woke" traditions, and to take our time together. 

I can remind my family of the people that lived on the land right under our feet (click here to find what tribes were on the land you live on). For my particular area of Ohio that would be the Hopewell, Adena, Shawnee, and Wyandot. I can discuss with my family the Native Americans' struggles as a people, and also the enriching culture that continues on. 

So is this a day of thanks, or a day of mourning? I think it can be both. 

Let's be thankful for all we have, especially during these uncertain, scary times. Let's be thankful for those closest to us, probably the ones right at our dinner table, who we may get irritated and bored by with all this forced togetherness.

Let's not celebrate this holiday only as the anniversary of the Mayflower landing at Plymouth. We should also celebrate by remembering the indigenous people that lived here before. Let's think of them as we give thanks for all we have.

For an interesting article or broadcast on this topic, go to Here & Now on NPR.

Have a wonderful day of thanks and reflection!