family gathering thanksgiving dinner breakout edu answers

The settlers had just had a good harvest and a very successful hunting expedition that included many wild birds, according to information Adams shares in her presentation.Ī letter written by Edward Winslow, an English leader who attended the first Thanksgiving, mentions the firing of guns after the hunt. The shared dinner might not have been planned, but rather developed from circumstances. It also is thought to have been a way for the Wampanoags to navigate the difficult, complex situation they faced with a neighboring enemy tribe as well as with settlers, traders, and even slave traders arriving on the coast. It’s true that the native Wampanoag people who lived near what is now Plymouth formed some kind of connection with the early settlers, though history points to it as more of an agreement to help each other if attacked by their mutual enemies. First Dinner Wasn’t a Planned Gathering, and Foods Variedįind your location on a map showing Native American territories. He was the sole survivor of his village and family. He returned home to his village only to find that everyone there had died from disease. His sale as a slave was blocked by friars, and he learned to speak English while in Europe.Ībout five years later, he was able to return to North America because of his value as an intermediary and interpreter. He and about 19 other people were captured as slaves and taken to Spain. Years before that first Thanksgiving, Tisquantum and others in his village were tricked into boarding a boat with the promise of trading goods. Squanto, whose full name was Tisquantum, is known from elementary-school history as a “friendly Indian who helped the settlers learn to plant corn.” He did help the new arrivals and could speak English, but there is more to his story. “They came here as part of a commercial venture.” Squanto’s Story “The pilgrims (who did not call themselves pilgrims) did not come to the US seeking religious freedom they already had that in Holland,” she said. The colonists who took part in the first Thanksgiving at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, were settlers-not pilgrims fleeing religious persecution, Adams explained. And, the first Thanksgiving might not have included any turkey.

Also, a famous Native American who played a key role in Thanksgiving stories knew English only because he had been captured as a slave years before. The true history of Thanksgiving is far more complex than what you may remember hearing while you were tracing your hand to make a turkey in elementary school.įor example, the “pilgrims” weren’t actually all pilgrims. “It means going beyond the harmful ‘pilgrims and Indians’ narrative and focusing on common values: generosity, gratitude, community, and good food,” she said.Ībbie Adams, Department of Anthropology Not All Settlers Were Pilgrims Adams has researched this topic and has done presentations to help people understand the holiday’s history and what is meant by “decolonizing” Thanksgiving. “It is important to set the record straight, acknowledge Native Peoples, debunk myths, and show Native Americans as contemporary people with dynamic, thriving cultures who have profoundly impacted our current food system,” said Abbie Adams, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology. It keeps the focus on Thanksgiving dinner and being together with family while exploring the authentic history of those times and the tremendous contributions Native Americans have made in developing the foods we eat today.

This newer approach is informed by indigenous world views-such as balance instead of excess. There is a movement to enjoy what is positive about the holiday while turning away from one-dimensional misrepresentations of Native Americans. Instead, they promote hurtful stereotypes. While Thanksgiving dinner can be linked back to the holiday’s true history as a harvest feast, many of the stories told about the first Thanksgiving do not measure up against the indigenous perspective. It’s the main way we celebrate the holiday, and it’s a positive and valued tradition that many enjoy. Thanksgiving dinner can be a wonderful chance to spend time with family while sharing a special meal. (during the Crimson Common Hour) in the Great Room in Elkin Hall. The event, which features a presentation by Abbie Adams, associate professor of anthropology and chair of the Native American Awareness Council, will be held Wednesday, November 17, from 11:30 a.m. Want to hear more? The Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement and the Native American Awareness Council will present a Lunch and Learn event titled “Decolonizing Your Thanksgiving Meal.”

Learn More History at “Decolonizing Your Thanksgiving”

Family gathering thanksgiving dinner breakout edu answers