Consider This from NPR The Indigenous Stories Glossed Over In The Typical 'First Thanksgiving' Story
Nov 24, 2021
Paula Peters, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and a passionate writer, provides a revealing look at the Thanksgiving narrative often glossed over in history. She discusses the intricate society of the Wampanoag before the Pilgrims arrived, their agricultural practices, and the struggles faced by Squanto during his life. The conversation also touches on the long-lasting impact of colonization and the importance of recognizing Indigenous perspectives today. Peters urges listeners to rethink the traditional story of Thanksgiving and its implications.
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The Wampanoag's Arrival
- The Wampanoag were not invited to the first Thanksgiving feast.
- They arrived armed, responding to celebratory gunfire they perceived as a threat.
Thanksgiving's Omitted History
- The traditional Thanksgiving story often omits the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples after the feast.
- This includes land dispossession, forced religious conversion, and displacement.
Wampanoag Society
- The Wampanoag had a complex society long before the Pilgrims arrived.
- Their society included farming, fishing, hunting, a sophisticated government, and clan leaders, often women.