The Myth of Thanksgiving: Native American Perspectives on 'The Pilgrims' | Past Forward

Inspired by the 2015 film THE PILGRIMS, American Experience presents a special discussion sharing Native American perspectives on the arrival of European settlers in New England 400 years ago. The conversation will examine the experiences of Native populations at the time of the settlers’ arrival, what is actually known about the first Thanksgiving, and how native tribes see themselves in today’s construction of the United States.
Featuring:
Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag, historian and independent scholar
Cassius Spears, a Knowledge Keeper and Narragansett Tribal Member
Moderated by Yvonne Russo, a filmmaker and member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribal Nation

[@richardson.1424]

I'm watching today on Thanksgiving. I felt like it was finally time to make an honest effort towards doing something different today after years of un-learning the things I was programmed with from an early age. Thank you for this.

[@LuvLiWords]

BLESS YOU ALL and Thank You for this deep, rich Authentic Perspective on the Truth behind the Myth. I will be sharing this today and throughout the year.

[@carolspoehr2696]

Linda's response to the oral history was so spot on. From the beginning of time, oral history was all we had. The Holy bible was not written down as it happened; it was record after it happened. Reading and writing in history has been for wealth and often the male children; the less wealthy and poor have passed their history on by sharing it orally.

[@t-pinmuscletherapy8418]

On the deforestation point. It's known that the native tribes used controlled burns to clear lands for crops and animals. And natives DID of course chop down tees to burn for heat, light, and cooking fuel.

[@marshajoyner7475]

Aloha from Honolulu

[@Mica-rv5eg]

I just broke this down for my H.S US History class. this might be helpful for someone else.

[@thomadan01]

This was very enlightening; thank you for educating me!

[@amandala444]

Thank you for the time and thoughts offered here. Makes me want to learn even more. I do wish, however, so long as we are speaking to accuracy in history, that Linda would've noted that the holiday of Thanksgiving, as those of European descent here in the USA know it, was promulgated mostly by a woman, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, an American writer, editor and activist. She promoted it to Lincoln, and in Godey's Lady's Book magazine, (where she was editor) as a way to ease growing political tensions between North and South around the Civil War.

[@soltrekker]

I too am watching on Thanksgiving, or what I now call Gratitude Day because Thanksgiving like so much else has been embedded in perpetuated myth. This is not my first time marching toward truth. I inch ever closer, I hope. That said, I thank you, especially, for sharing your knowledge, experience, wisdom, and spirit.

[@clintraymundo6547]

That was insightful! I didn’t think that not all of Massasoit’s people would agree with him allying with the Puritans, and I didn’t think about contextualizing tensions between the Natives and the English settlers with the former’s abusive history with European outsiders. I also really liked the discussion of how you can still celebrate Thanksgiving without denying the truth behind it.

[@textaylors]

This information is very good and I am grateful for each of you for loving truth, digging out the facts from the indigenous perspective, and delivering this information to our generation.

[@jaecreations8648]

This was so enlightening and such a wealth of information that has never been taught! The history books for our kids of today need to be rewritten to include the truth of the origins of this holiday! Such great commentary from each of you! Thank you!!! The truth of the holiday has been white-washed and presented as something to celebrate. Are we celebrating thievery and massacre? Now I have to go find the documentary…The Pilgrims!

[@paulvalanzuolo6374]

it good to hear of a original account of first settlement ..in that probability of that what it was.. but i would like if anyone knows or theorized the Vikings landing here prior... their are stone made sites that were established...long before,,

[@scottl.1568]

Thanks for this

[@Dana9437]

I will share this with friends and family.

[@bonnieburton4360]

PS blessings and happy holidays

[@drmichaelwelsh]

Has no one examined this question before? PBS sponsored a series in 2009 entitled,

[@ShannonCrane]

“Day of Mourning” - mentioned by Linda, needs elaboration.

[@waltersstreet]

Fascinating

[@whitneyweaver4133]

A gathering of the settlers and the indigenous people DID HAPPEN in 1621 so I fail to understand how it is a "Myth". Granted, the history of what ensued after that in the past 400 years is sometimes horrendous and we have to own up to that, but the most important thing we have to do now is treat each other kinder and make things better for the future of us all.