How Thanksgiving is viewed by some Indigenous Americans (via Agence France Presse).
"What we call it is Unthanksgiving," Bear Lincoln of the Wailikie Tribe told AFP as he waved burning sage to purify the area and ward off evil spirits.
"It was the saddest day for us. It was a big mistake for us to help the Pilgrims survive that first winter. They betrayed us once they got their strength."
Your Fairy Bookmother (Rachael Vilmaer) has a different take and responds to Deconstructing Thanksgiving, an essay that tears apart what most of us have been taught about Thanksgiving.
Should I stop celebrating Thanksgiving altogether? Oyate lists "Thanksgiving is a happy time" as number 11 on its list of myths about the holiday. "For many Indian people," they caution, "`Thanksgiving' is a time of mourning." Well, what if it's still a happy time for me - does that make me a heel? What if it's a time of celebration, of remembering my blessings, and of reconnecting with family and friends? Even if I don't pay much attention to the old Plymouth Rock story, am I still playing the part of the oppressor by perpetuating an insensitive ritual?
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