American history and culture can sometimes feel like a Seurat painting: some of us stand at a distance and see only an idyllic scene. When asked about that monkey business at the bottom of the famous “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, many say they hadn’t even noticed. There are a few, however, who not only see that monkey but also have a perspective that gives them a close look at the Seurat, revealing its bumps, complexities, and ugliness. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Columbus Day crystallize this dichotomy of perspective.
In particular, Thanksgiving immortalizes a friendly thank you dinner between native people and pilgrims who’d been pulled from the brink of death, but erases the tragic thanks that the indigenous people suffered thereafter. One can’t fully appreciate the historical meaning of Thanksgiving without first taking that disturbing closer look at history and then returning to the quickly lost tradition of honoring native American heritage. After all, without the help of native people, the pilgrims have never have survived to make America our shared home.
Here are four ways to give thanks and appreciate Native Americans this Thanksgiving and throughout the year.
1. Remember great individuals like Sacajawea who helped the Lewis and Clark expedition, Maria TallChief who danced with the New York City Ballet in the 40’s and 50’s, comedian Will Rogers, and of course the political and military leaders who defended and preserved a people and culture under siege. And remember that October 12 is not only Columbus Day but also Indigenous People’s Day – another chance to remember the complete story.
2. Cultivate a pro-indigenous culture in the mainstream by divesting from the many sport organizations, businesses, and products that natives say still exploit, misrepresent, and denigrate native people often for mere branding purposes (looking at you, Sexy Chief costumes).
3. Give back to organizations that serve the needs and interests of these very deserving but often under-served people. Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), American Indian College Fund, and Native American Business Alliance (NABA) are just a few charitable organizations you can support.
4. Pass it forward. That means taking the same generosity that natives showed to our weak and weary predecessors, and passing it forward to those less fortunate than ourselves. Native people made America possible by teaching immigrants how to till the land and survive; later, we even used their fighting techniques to win our independence. Think about how you too can empower fellow Americans and the weak and weary around the world.
As we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, humility, and generosity during this uniquely American tradition of Thanksgiving, honoring Native Americans for their life-saving generosity towards America’s first immigrants must go beyond plays with children donning feathered headbands. After all, a thank you dinner is all the first pilgrims could do to express their thanks as they struggled to make a new life. We, on the other hand, have the power to do so much more and continue to see new reasons to be grateful as native peoples continue to shape America’s future.
“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” ― W.T. Purkiser
