11/27/2025
🍂 The Unifying Energies of Thanksgiving: Finding Truth in the Tradition
I’ve long wrestled with the conventional narrative of Thanksgiving. My perspective shifted profoundly during my years serving as a land protector and Indigenous ally on Native land—and the stereotypical school plays, dressed as “Indians and Pilgrims,” simply do not sit right with me.
The truth is, the wounds inflicted upon our First Nations people run deep, and the historical wrongs our culture continues to perpetrate are painful and complex.
My experience attending traditional ceremonies during those summers was foundational. It taught me the true meaning behind some of the first foods prepared: Berries, Meat, Corn, and Fry Bread. I learned the difficult truth about Fry Bread—that its prominence on the table is not a simple tradition, but a visible symbol of survival. It was made necessary by government-supplied foods—flour, lard, and baking soda—that were all Native people had left to make bread with.
Acknowledging this historical context and the ongoing struggle is essential. We cannot celebrate without knowing the truth. However, in recognizing the strength of survival and the importance of community, we can shift our focus toward the unifying energy this day can still hold: the profound gratitude for life, for connection, and for the commitment to live in awareness of the whole. This is the spirit I choose to carry forward. May we continue to seek understanding.
