November 27, 2008
How Thanksgiving Became the National Day of Mourning for the Wampanoag Native Americans
When I was young, it was ok for people to celebrate the myth of Thanksgiving as it had been told to us for hundreds of years. The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth rock and were met by some very friendly “Indians”.
These Indians quickly became friends with the Pilgrims. In a way of celebrating both the Pilgrim/Indian friendship and the wonderful harvest that the Pilgrims and the Indians worked together to cultivate…Thanksgiving was born.
Now as time goes on and the country becomes more and more politically correct we can see that the story behind Thanksgiving was based mostly on mythology and it has gone through great changes. This is, in part, due to the Wampanog tribe of Native Americans but more specifically a man named Frank B. James, the one time leader of the Wampanog tribe.
How did the Wampanog tribe of Native Americans turn Thanksgiving into the National Day of Mourning?
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts had decided back in 1970 to invite the then leader of the Wampanoag Native American tribe to Plymouth Mass, the site of the “first Thanksgiving”, and give a speech about the meaning Thanksgiving. The speech was set to take place on the top of Cole’s Hill.
Once the Commonwealth of Massachusetts realized that the Wampanoag tribe leader, Frank B. James, intended to speak out about the misconceptions of Thanksgiving and the way that the Native Americans were actually treated, they decided to un-invite him as a public speaker. This, however, did not stop the Wampanog Native American tribe, it’s leader Frank B. James, or it’s supporters.
Convening at Cole’s Hill in Plymouth Mass, The Wampanoag Native American tribe declared that the Fourth Sunday of November would no longer be known to Native Americans as Thanksgiving. They would now use this day as a way of protesting the Thanksgiving myth of how Native Americans were actually treated…The National Day Of Mourning was born.
National Day Of Mourning Will Continue
Since that first gathering, Native Americans and their supporters have gathered on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth Massachusetts on the Fourth Thursday of November at twelve noon to commemorate The National Day of Mourning. There has been a plaque placed on Cole’s Hill at the yearly meeting site which reads:
“Since 1970, Native Americans have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US Thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. To them, Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of their people, the theft of their lands, and the relentless assault on their culture. Participants in a National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. 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.”
I can certainly understand why Native Americans would take issue with their whole country celebrating the way that their people were murdered and their land overtaken. See I don’t know exactly what happened because A) I wasn’t there B) my “perfect world” history books told a story of two different types of people coming together to give thanks for their newfound relationship with each other.
The Wampanoag Native American tribe has been quoted as saying they will continue with their National Day of Mourning ceremonies and rallies until American history books reflect what truly happened to their people once the Pilgrims came to this country. While I think we have made definite steps in that direction…I can’t see that happening for a long, long time, if ever.
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Peter
11/12/2007 at 10:39 am
I can see your arguments and points, all are very valid. I had many myself. Then I read the recently published book A Cultural History of the Native Peoples of Southern New England and my position changed. The book was written from a Native perspective, and has information on the first encounters of Native Americans and pilgrims, as well as the first Thanksgiving. I won’t eat turkey the same again…
Erin
11/14/2007 at 12:11 pm
Believe me, I don’t dispute that what our history books show as Thanksgiving didn’t happen that way. I just question how many people sit down to their Turkey dinner giving thanks to the Pilgrims and the Indians anymore.
I think Thanksgiving has taken on a different meaning of just giving thanks in general about our lives. At least that’s how it is for me.
nally
11/20/2007 at 5:30 pm
yo dude yo yo yo
Brainard Carey
11/21/2007 at 11:59 pm
Here is a video my son made about the real, very dark, thanksgiving story;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2tcnwQj8tk
brainard
Valeri W Lamar
11/22/2007 at 2:52 am
Hello to my cousin Russell Peters, My mother Zira Thomas is his cousin, Iwas raised in New York. So not much known aboutthe National day of mourning out side of the Native Community. And its not observed as it should be. There should at least be mention of the National day of mournings importance in the media. I grew up in the American Indian Community House in NYC. So there was always mention of the National Day of Mourning and respect for the Wamponoag people during the thanksgiving. I hope to see in the future recognition of the concerns of the native peoples.
Sarah
11/22/2007 at 3:00 am
Not really Erin. I work in elementary schools. They still cut out and color pictures of “indians” and pilgrims. Pilgrims are depicted as kindly gentle people when they were actually hate filled violent monsters. Whether or not it is being spoken out loud, it is deeply ingrained in american consciousness that this is a holiday that stems from a friendly feast between two peoples. On top of it, the holiday has become little more than a break from jobs people hate and a pretext to month long manic shopping fests. The whole holiday is disgusting from start to finish. And americans need to get in contact with reality. If you want to have a celebration, find something positive and truthful to celebrate. It’s just one more example in a long list of hypocritical, demented american hoaxes.
In order to heal, all americans should join these people in mourning on this day, return the land to the natives, revere their culture in text books and find a day to celebrate that.
(as I write this, there is an advertisement for a national chain store yelling out “shop all day thursday”)
JT
01/23/2009 at 9:53 pm
Erin, I agree with you, I doubt too many intelligent Americans actually believe the Native Americans and our ancestral Europeans who came here had such a happy togetherness however I think Sarah’s obvious anti-American hatred runs a bit deep.
I would believe that almost all modern day celebrations, regardless of country or religion, are bred out of at least some myth and half (or at least long forgotten) truth.
Asking us to all leave the US and “return the land to the natives” is at best, an unintelligent solution.
Sukie
11/19/2009 at 8:04 pm
Thanksgiving is a celebration of cultures and the grattitude I feel for living in a country where all beliefs can be practiced without persecution. I am an adopted person of mixed heritage. I am not responsible for what horrors were put upon the Native Americans, and feel saddened that somebody like Sarah needs to live in the past. My people were sold as sex slaves and railroad workers, we were interned in prison camps for having slanted eyes, I don’t obsess what was done to my ancesestors, I learn from it. I move forward day to day and ask how I can make this country a better place for my children. The way we do that is to celebrate Thanksgiving in the spirit it was intended, with family and loved ones from every walk of life. I hate what has been done to Native Americans, but saying Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the end is just saying America would be a better place with no white people, which is just as racist and biggoted as the manner in which Native Americans were treated We’re here, all of us from everywhere, move on, and think of how we can help Native Americans in the now, and not obsess about the past.