The Story of the First Thanksgiving
The story of the first Thanksgiving as it has been told and continues to be told, is a disservice to the truth and to those most affected by this: The First Peoples of this nation. Thanksgiving, also known as a National Day of Mourning to many Native Americans, is a reminder of the disease, oppression, and genocide that the arrival of the colonial settlers brought. “Native American people who first encountered the "pilgrims" at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts play a major role in the imagination of American people today.
Contemporary celebrations of the Thanksgiving holiday focus on the idea that the "first Thanksgiving" was a friendly gathering of two disparate groups—or even neighbors—who shared a meal and lived harmoniously. In actuality, the assembly of these people had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and an effort at rarely achieved, peaceful coexistence” Edutopia.org.
“… the idea of giving thanks is central to Native heritage and culture, and in this way, Thanksgiving is simply a chance to appreciate the good things of life like family, community, and the riches of the land. Long before settlers arrived, Native tribes were celebrating the autumn harvest and the gift of Mother Earth’s abundance. Native American spirituality, both traditionally and today, emphasizes gratitude for creation, care for the environment, and recognition of the human need for communion with nature and others.” Nativehope.org.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) invites us to rethink Thanksgiving celebrations and take care to not perpetuate stereotypes or misrepresent Native American traditions—complex traditions developed over thousands of years that are unique to each individual tribe.
The two links below give us some thoughtful ways in which we can educate ourselves and our students about Thanksgiving. These sites provide Native American timelines, perspectives, contributions and celebrations, family resources, video clips, activities, lesson plans, booklists, teaching approaches, and historical resources.
This Thanksgiving we have much to be grateful for! Harborlight is a wonderful place of learning, a place of community, and a place of coming together to pass on the learning we inherited from Dr. Maria Montessori. We are grateful to be in school, in a warm building full of people who care about each other and the education of our children. As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, grateful for the gifts of food, of family, and friends, we must also honor the truth of our history, how we got here, and the truth of whose land we are on. For all that we have been given, may we give back by forging a better, more equitable future for all.
This (abridged) 500-year-old Thanksgiving Prayer from the Seneca Nation gives thanks for everything given to us by Mother Earth.
Seneca Thanksgiving Prayer
And now we are gathered together to remember the Great Mystery’s first instruction to us: to love one another always, we who move about on this earth. And the Great Mystery said that when even two people meet, they should first greet each other by saying: “Nyah Weh Skenno” which translates to “thank you for being” and then they may take up the matter with which they are concerned. The Great Mystery gave us our lives and requires in return only that we be grateful and love one another. The purpose of this prayer is to pass on those instructions and give us the opportunity to express our gratitude. So the first thing we will do is give thanks for our lives. And the Great Mystery gave us the Earth on which to live and roam. We refer to her as “Our Mother, Who Supports Our Feet.” And our mother gives us everything we need in order to live and be happy. She teaches us to be generous and nurturing, yet strong. And the Great Mystery saw that the people also needed guidance, so he sent Clan Ancestors to teach understanding of the Great Mystery. And the Great Mystery, told us this: “I shall continue to dwell above the sky, and that is where those on the earth will end their thanksgiving. I shall always be listening carefully to what the people are saying and shall always be watching carefully what they do. They will begin on the earth, giving thanks for all that they see. They will carry that gratitude upward, ending where I dwell.” We want to live well to earn that right. Let us be of one mind that we may do this properly. We give thanks for the one who gives us our lives, the Great Mystery. [At this time express gratitude for other aspects of your life]. In closing: May our grief be lifted, our hearts be open, our stomach be full, our bones be braced, and all will be calmed. It is spoken, it is beautiful.”
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