Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. The last Thursday of November, which this year falls on the 26th of November, to many, is a day of giving thanks and celebrating the harvest. However, it also happens to be extremely controversial due to its unpleasant history of colonialism.
Many people view Thanksgiving as a celebration of the conquest of Native Americans by colonists and it is considered by some Indigenous peoples as a “Day of Mourning”. The Wampanoag tribe remember the day as colonists plundering their resources and crops. Other tribes feel it celebrates the genocide of their people, while disparaging their traditions and customs. Jaqueline Keeler, a member of the Yankton Dakota Sioux, views the day as a reconciliation for the horrors that her people have experienced, like mass murder, enslavement, and loss of land.
If you decide to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, the point to take away from this article is to remind yourself of why you are celebrating this day. Be thoughtful to peoples of Indigenous communities and remain respectful to their traditions, customs, and beliefs.
Written by Sahar Baraki
Artwork by Zara Masood
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