Thanksgiving began in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. At least 90 Wampanoag men and 52 Christian colonists joined together to celebrate the first successful harvest of the settlers. Christian settlers came to a New World on the Mayflower and met with Natives, and began to become accustomed to the land with the help of the tribes of the area. This event gained the name of the “first Thanksgiving,” and was seen as a relatively peaceful and joyous event for the parties involved. This fails to address the Native American perspective.

While the gathering of the Wampanoag and settlers indeed did occur, the Wampanoag joined the settlers to try to negotiate after countless deaths by disease introduced by the Christian settlers. Wampanoag graves were also robbed of the food supplied for them for the afterlife. during the settlers’ first year of acclimating to the land. Countless Native tribes like the Pequot were mercilessly slaughtered in the years to follow.

The obvious prejudice in favoring colonists over Natives in history has sparked debate over whether to recognize the holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate Thanksgiving because to them, it is a day of mourning and protest for the atrocities committed by the settlers. In fact, many individuals gather at Cole’s Hill in Plymouth for a rally of grieving. Those who do celebrate do so to honor Native heritage and culture. They use the day to celebrate the good in their lives and give thanks to the land for providing their food while sitting down with loved ones to indulge in traditionally prepared meals. 

Of course, this begs the question: how do non-native individuals celebrate Thanksgiving respectfully if they choose to? Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo) is a chef and a caterer who opened her own restaurant in Fruitvale Village in Oakland. She is a Native woman from the Ohlone tribe, and her restaurant, of course, honors Native food! She says non-Native people should “give” during Thanksgiving because, to Wahpehpah, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is to give. Think of your elders, people who are hungry and homeless, and share your food.

Additionally, non-Native individuals can do an Indigenous land acknowledgment (guides can be found on websites such as the nonprofit Native Governance Center or the Smithsonian Center’s National Museum of the American Indian). Making a Native American dish in honor of the original residents of the land, following a Native recipe, is another way to show reverence. Furthermore, showing thoughtfulness can be as simple as giving recognition to the Native American tribes in your community before your meal, giving a moment of silence before eating, or recognizing Native American Heritage Day, the day after Thanksgiving, instead of just seeing it as Black Friday, is another excellent gesture. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, do not simply throw away the history of it or forget the struggle of the original inhabitants of the land. Instead, treat the holiday as a way to give thanks to the land for providing, share with those around you, take joy in gathering family together, and most importantly, respect the Native Americans whose land the United States originally belongs to.