Thanksgiving is a complicated holiday for most. On the one hand, it can be a heart-warming celebration of family and good food that’s often steeped in the glow of nostalgia. On the other hand, the holiday has a sinister history and a legacy of atrocities, including the continued separation of Native Americans from their ancestral lands.
This Thanksgiving, consider taking a moment to learn about the holiday’s troubled past by reading from this book list of Native American nonfiction that examines the harms that have been inflicted and perpetuated against the Native community. Or, learn about the vibrant and everlasting culture of Native Americans through this list of fiction by Native authors. If you’re more interested in movies and documentaries, check out this selection on Kanopy for Native American Heritage Month.
You can also learn about what native tribes used to inhabit the land we live on using this interactive map, created by a collection of Native software engineers and artists.
Acknowledging the troubling history of the holiday is a great place to start, but there are other ways to make a lasting positive impact this Thanksgiving.
Check out these volunteering opportunities highlighted from the County of Marin that can help you feel connected to your community while you help others. Volunteering for organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin, San Francisco-Marin Foodbank, and The Ritter Center allow them to serve the most vulnerable in our community.
However you choose to celebrate or acknowledge the holiday (or not), we hope you will embark on a journey to learn something new, whether about a vibrant culture, the United States, or even yourself.
Further Reading
Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving
Native Knowledge 360 | National Museum of the American Indian
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgiving
How to Give Thanks and Acknowledge History
Illuminate | Santa Clara University
This tribe helped the Pilgrims survive for their first Thanksgiving. They still regret it 400 years later
The Washington Post
Tip: You can get free access to the Washington Post and many other newspapers and magazines online with your library card. Learn more on our Magazines & Newspapers page.
Contributed by Emma Thompson
Add a comment to: Thanksgiving: Reflecting on History, Honoring Native Voices, and Giving Back