If you choose to celebrate, keep the focus on indigenous history and joy, gratitude, and family togetherness and friendship. Have everyone in your family share something for which they are grateful, just as indigenous peoples do. The native people knew the land well and had fished, hunted, and harvested for thousands of generations. They believed that if they cared for nature and gave thanks for its bounty, they would continue to be blessed by it. by Eve Bunting. Most Americans are taught the same story about Thanksgiving—that Pilgrims sat together with Native Americans to share a meal and thank them for helping with a successful first harvest. This incident is also often cited as the first official mention of a "thanksgiving" ceremony, and is another commonly cited origin story for the Thanksgiving we know today. That’s really for you to decide. They were ill-prepared and lacked knowledge about their new climate and home. It is appropriate for 6th grade and above. A group of children explain what happened on the first Thanksgiving. This is the most commonly researched and reported story. There's also the fact that settlers came to the land to kidnap and sell Native Americans into slavery. Inspirational Stories for Thanksgiving (reprinted from last year) Posted by bodyandsoulnourishmentblog on October 7, 2017 October 7, 2017. Paperback. Thanks for learning about this Thanksgiving history for kids with us! The Thanksgiving Story Alice Dalgliesh. Here are a few indigenous-owned shops that sell blue corn items, handmade soap, candles, and here are more bath & beauty items and also art. Avoid only reading about just what really happened in 1620. You might think, what’s the harm in sharing a happy story? "Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture," says the United American Indians of New England. The True Story Of Thanksgiving Isn't The One You Learned In School. You can read more about why this cultural appropriation and mockery is hurtful here. President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789, and President Lincoln issued one in 1863. What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions that focus on giving thanks instead of on inaccurate history? Paperback. In fact, just a few years before, the area had been filled with indigenous peoples living and farming. Do you think dressing up as Pilgrims and Indians is a good way to celebrate the holiday? Heavy fortified statehouses around the US see small protests. In New England, the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrims together with 91 Indians. Where the last point is concerned, you can find out the Indigenous history of the land you live on by using resources like native-land.ca. They live in a village where soldiers led by the government of their country arrive at their door. For example, some tribes view the holiday as a national day of mourning (shown above); they see it as the day settlers came to their land, spurring decades of violence and mistreatment. Even if it’s not true, it’s a great metaphor for kindness and friendship, and befriending those who are different from us. Create a class book using their stories using a site such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Support indigenous authors and learn indigenous stories. We can all participate in feelings of gratitude. Did you know that some people protest Thanksgiving? For example: Seek out Native American authors, activists, artists, and chefs, and support in their work. It can be really uncomfortable to confront truths in our own ancestral histories. But that story has been proven to be riddled with mistruths. 2021 MONTHLY GLOBAL CHILDREN'S BOOK CLUB RESOURCES. You can also subscribe without commenting. By the time the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts Ba… As The Smithsonian points out, discussions of this event are often centered around the settlers, but Native Americans had been on the land for centuries before, and the story from their perspective obviously far predates this feast. A magazine editor and children’s book writer, she persisted for over 30 years in her quest to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. PIN THIS POST FOR LATER! Here’s a big list of inclusive Thanksgiving books, including a number of own voices books sharing indigenous stories. Most people hear the story of Thanksgiving from a young age and it’s pretty simple. 4.7 out of 5 stars 373. Paperback. With that in mind, this meal actually being viewed as the "first Thanksgiving" is up for debate with experts. It was not until 1863 that Thanksgiving became an official national holiday. History of Thanksgiving Videos. Corn was incredibly important to indigenous populations. They first held a celebration of their harvest in 1621. Anthony Zurita. Required fields are marked *. As we learned in the writing assignment from the two indigenous authors, even different native individuals will feel differently – indigenous people are not a monolith. Start out with a video; choose one that will suit the level of your class from the following options: This history of Thanksgiving video, told by Plymouth Rock (yes, a rock) is geared towards kids. There are so few Thanksgiving books for kids written from the Native perspective, which we worked hard to track down some great ones. And continue to advocate for indigenous rights. I think I’ll teach Thanksgiving short stories for middle school or high school.” So you did a web search for “Thanksgiving short stories for middle school or high school” and probably found nothing. A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to spend your privilege (a concept from Tiffany Jewell’s book This Book is Anti-Racist) by financially supporting Native communities as a minor reparation. NorthJersey. History of Thanksgiving The tradition of Thanksgiving started with the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts. True History of Thanksgiving for Kids: Arrival of English Colonists In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. Students may choose two different festivals and compare and contrast. They would have probably had seafood, as well as a Wampanoag dish called nasaump, a porridge made of cornmeal, which the settlers had adopted. The peace treaty between the Wampanoag and the English colonists lasted about 50 years, after which it devolved into fighting and war. In 1621, those Pilgrims did hold a three-day feast, which was attended by members of the Wampanoag tribe. Here are some basic facts that you can share with even young children: Nasaump is a traditional Wampanoag meal. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, but doesn’t change your price. For many, it feels like a celebration and feast in honor of genocide, and we should be wary of that. They took food that native peoples had buried for later use, as well as treasures hidden amongst their dead. The True Story Of Thanksgiving Isn't The One You Learned In School Kristin Salaky 11/18/2020. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. And that did happen – once. This activity from Teaching Tolerance has students read two texts from indigenous authors. Write all the letters of your name in a column going up and down. We should remember that when celebrating the Pilgrims, we communicate that only white colonist history is important. Read chapters 5, 6 & 7 then complete the following: Chapter Five Part one: Complete End of Chapter Questions 2, 4 & 5 Part two: Complete Internet Exercise: go to www.google.com and find an article on equal pay. Most of our Thanksgiving recipes are made with indigenous foods: turkey, corn, beans, pumpkins, maple, wild rice and the like. The colonists took land that did not belong to them. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Please share any activities you do with us over on our Instagram. This could look like financially supporting indigenous creators (influencers, small shops, etc. 4.9 out of 5 stars 202. $6.99 #38. Ready to set the record straight? You can share accurate resources with your child’s teacher to ensure s/he is teaching truth in the classroom. We'll give you the best glimpse at what we know, but note: There is a lot of information to digest about this issue and a few supposed origins of the holiday—some of them conflicting. Corn was especially important to indigenous peoples, including the Wampanoag. This is false. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”. You can also read this article deconstructing Thanksgiving myths. As young students walk out of school for Thanksgiving … You probably have some vague idea that the Thanksgiving holiday is not quite the rosy picture you read about in school, but the "real origins" of the holiday are not clear cut either. This did not last long, as the indigenous peoples and the colonists soon started fighting again, and the colonists took over more of the indigenous peoples’ land and resources. According to The New York Times, the Mayflower did, in fact, bring settlers from England to land which they colonized and renamed Plymouth, MA. Instead, consider giving thanks and celebrating with your families with the following appropriate Thanksgiving ideas: This message of peace and gratitude for the earth and everything in it has versions in a number of Native American cultures. Yes, it is, but it is dangerous to use false narratives to push this. Follow along with Grandma as she reads aloud THE VERY STUFFED TURKEY! The Story of Thanksgiving The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first thanksgiving in America, were fleeing religious persecution in their native England. It is also important to be tribally specific. They left behind smallpox which virtually wiped out those who had escaped. What are ways we can make sure our Thanksgiving celebrations promote healing rather than detract from it. Learn the truth behind the historic meal that brought Native Americans and settlers together. (The colonists were more likely to celebrate thanks with prayer and fasting.). Combine that with the fact that some non-Natives choose to dress up in things like headdresses in "honor" of Thanksgiving, which many see as a mockery of sacred dress. It’s important that we continue to seek out facts to learn truth concerning colonial US history. dress up in things like headdresses in "honor" of Thanksgiving, some tribes view the holiday as a national day of mourning, why this cultural appropriation and mockery is hurtful here. Their living situation was terrible, and almost half of the people who left England on the Mayflower died during the … Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to place the focus back on them and their native lands. These included cornmeal for cornbread, corn syrup, corn pudding, weaving it into mats or baskets, fuel, and more. 25+ inclusive Thanksgiving books for kids, American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving, A few things you (probably) don’t know about Thanksgiving, Everyone’s history matters: The Wampanoag Indian Thanksgiving story deserves to be known, read this article deconstructing Thanksgiving myths, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Our Favorite Vegetarian Recipes for Thanksgiving | Local Passport Family, Hanukkah Activities and Family Learning Guide | Local Passport Family, Hiking the Sedona Devil’s Bridge Trail with Kids, 25+ Voting & Elections Picture Books Featuring Diverse Leaders. I love to share read-alouds with my students and a perfect Thanksgiving story for grades 4-8 is How Many Days to America? Indigenous peoples have many times during the year to give thanks. The tribe that made a peace treaty with the colonists was the Wampanoag. Your email address will not be published. IF YOU LIKED THIS POST ABOUT THE REAL HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING FOR KIDS, YOU MIGHT LIKE THESE POSTS TOO: NOT READY FOR THIS ACCURATE THANKSGIVING HISTORY QUITE YET? They left England in September, 1620. In 1621, they sat down together for a thanksgiving feast, and we've been celebrating it … The Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, wanted to strengthen his tribe against a stronger tribe, the Narragansett. Whenever possible, we should use the specific names of tribes. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! amzn_assoc_region = "US"; However, an epidemic had killed many natives, leaving room for the colonists to settle. At the time of the feast, the colonists were setting up a meal of thanks. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "preethib7-20"; You can support organizations like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society or the National Indian Child Care Association. Sammy's Thanksgiving Rescue (Sammy Bird) V Moua. A man was walking by. The Wampanog were a nation made up of 69 villages in the areas of present-day Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Is the version of the “first Thanksgiving” that is usually taught in school correct? amzn_assoc_linkid = "07bc81538567f7df95e3577707bf2f56"; Teaching incomplete histories about colonization can make it seem that colonization wasn’t that bad, or was maybe even beneficial to indigenous peoples. How can there not be Thanksgiving short stories … amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Board Books. Read indigenous texts, fiction and nonfiction. Many indigenous people had gotten sick because of diseases brought there by people from Europe. Make a corn necklace to remember its importance to the Wampanoag, and how they used it to help the colonists. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Remember, back in 1620, there were no grocery stores, restaurants, or hotels in Plymouth! Colonists had also spread disease, which had killed many native peoples. Another simple thing you can do is steer the people in your life away from harmful stereotypes against Native Americans that might appear in your school curriculum, sporting events, or holiday decorations. Write down one thing for which you are grateful that starts with each letter of your name! Don't subscribe It is a porridge made out of corn. Here are several different traditional nasaump recipes! amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; What are some of those special foods you eat during different seasons? That then made it easier for colonizers to take over these lands. You may also want to read this beautiful Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. The settlers had to hunt for food and build their own houses out of wood from the trees they cut down. Find ready-to-go classroom activities, colorful crafts, lesson plans for The First Thanksgiving student … amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; In fact, there were about 90 Wampanoag men and 52 English colonists. $7.59 #39. We do not need that illusion of past unity to actually unite people today. Many indigenous tribes honor the earth and a Creator as they remember all that they are thankful for. After some talk, they decided to spend three days together and join the feast—but this type of coming together did not become a warm, fuzzy tradition as you may have been taught in school. ), advocating for justice and land rights, or speaking out to friends and family. When indigenous peoples express that it is hurtful to share a made up story, we should listen. You may feel free to share this resource with any teachers looking for ideas! So this feast and celebration was known as a "rejoicing," according to The New Yorker. From Manataka American Indian Council by Susan Bates Most of us associate the holiday with happy Pilgrims and Indians sitting down to a big feast. The final question – can we still celebrate Thanksgiving? The people and the land worked together! Many native communities show respect to this crop through dance and art. When Europeans began coming to what is now known as The United States about four years before the Mayflower arrived, they carried foreign illnesses which killed Native people at exceedingly high rates. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. And the point of this family guide to Thanksgiving is not to cause shame! Colonists left what is now Europe to look for a place where they could worship as they wanted, but believed that Christianity was the only valid religion. What kinds of foods are common? But when we advocate for an honest, rich, representative, and complete history of Thanksgiving, we prepare our children to be critical thinkers who are prepared to live inclusion in their own lives. Do you like to eat any of these foods? Read the texts and answer the included questions. Sarah Hale, having written to many US Presidents to request the creation of the holiday, wrote to President Lincoln. When planning your Thanksgiving meal, consider buying food or other goods from Native American growers in your area, and make a donation to a local Native organization near you. At that time, white colonists had already come and taken land from indigenous peoples. However, like all groups, Native Americans are not a monolith and have different perspectives on Thanksgiving. When the Pilgrims arrived, they’d already endured a long and arduous journey. Chapter … Continue reading "What is the real thanksgiving story?" The area surrounding the site of the first Thanksgiving, now known as southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island, had been the home of the Wampanoag people for over 12,000 years, and had been visited by other European settlers before the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620. Thanksgiving is about gratitude, good food… and plenty of myths. That’s why it’s important to learn an accurate history of what happened in 1621. This may include a reading of the Thanksgiving address, or perhaps a picture book read aloud of an indigenous own voice book such as We Are Water Protectors or Fry Bread. There were more native people than colonists present at the feast. I’ve also added some culturally responsive/sensitive books to help teach children about the real story of Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective. Thanksgiving story: When can kids be taught the real origins story? When we celebrate Thanksgiving, we can remember to use at as a time to help indigenous peoples who were hurt by and lost land and resources to colonists. "Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. This story is about a family that is fleeing their country. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. It will allow your family to focus not just on truth, but also on the joy of indigenous communities and traditions through books, activities, videos, food, and more. The Pilgrims came to North America on a ship called the Mayflower. There are a few different ways to begin, and continue, to uplift Native people and causes close to them, no matter how you feel about the holiday. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Shame doesn’t help those who are harmed. We can also listen to indigenous people’s perspectives on Thanksgiving and celebrating it. One part that has remained true about the real Thanksgiving story is the fact that the Wampanoag Indians really taught the colonists how to survive on … We should not talk about general “Indians,” as there are many different indigenous tribes with different cultural traditions. This packet found on Teachers Pay Teachers is a wonderful way to engage young children in thinking about Thanksgiving. We should embrace this.". Either way, I encourage you to learn and discuss. Do any animals ever join in on your family celebrations? Kindle Edition. Indigenous peoples during the time and place of colonization often planted and discussed the “three sisters” – corn, beans, and squash. Try Kids Academy with 3-day FREE TRIAL! The story began in 1614 when a band of English explorers sailed home to England with a ship full of Patuxet Indians bound for slavery. Let’s listen to a story by an indigenous author! Jasmine of the amazing First Name Basis Podcast has created a free e-book called Harvest that discusses harvest festivals around the world – it’s a wonderful resource! This is not true. People may not realize it, but what every person in this country shares, and the very history of this nation, has been in front of us the whole time. I hope it helps you have a wonderful and just Thanksgiving season! We’d love to hear if you do any of these activities! This story of Thanksgiving video is also targeted for children. You can read this wonderful children’s book about Sarah Hale! Thousands of parents and educators are turning to the kids’ learning app that makes real learning truly fun. We can also give thanks! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Instead, use this as an opportunity to learn more about different indigenous tribes and give them the honor and interest they deserve. Who helped it become a holiday? So consider this just that—an updated history lesson. We’ve loved putting together this resource with accurate Thanksgiving activities for kids. It can be so tempting to go along with fun Pilgrim and Indian activities with family or at school. The Navajo are another indigenous tribe – here’s a Navajo folktale. Discover the true story behind an event that started an enduring national holiday. 5.0 out of 5 stars 5. It’s one of my favorite family Thanksgiving ideas! And we can make the day about what everybody wants to talk and think about anyway: the food. The feast was organized by Governor William Bradford who also invited the local Wampanoag Indians to join in the meal. Because of their lack of preparation and knowledge, the colonists raided indigenous graves for corn and other supplies. When they arrived in Plymouth in November, they were not prepared for the harsh winter weather. Here's the Sad Reason Why. Replies to my comments we've linked some additional resources below: A Thanksgiving Message from Seven Amazing Native Americans, Indigenous Perspective of Thanksgiving Resources, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, I'm a Doctor This is the #1 Worst Mistake You Could Make Right Now, COVID Cases Fell in Donald Trump's Last Week as President. The Wampanoag heard shooting (for the meal) and went to investigate. 7 Thanksgiving Stories {Free Downloads} Tools Here are 7 heart-warming Thanksgiving stories by well-known authors—short stories in the public domain, but not abridgements—that the entire family can enjoy as read alouds through the days leading to Thanksgiving Day. It’s a very sad history, and when we celebrate the feast, we also celebrate the Pilgrims who perpetuated a great deal of harm. You can also look up what indigenous land you are using, and support organizations such as Land Rights Now that secure land rights of indigenous peoples. 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