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_http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html_
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FROM:
_http://www.examiner.com/x-1207-DC-Youth-Issues-Examiner~y2008m11d17-A-Native-American-Thanksgiving_
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story
_ 4 comments _
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
November 17, 1:45 PM
by Aisha Ali, _D.C. Youth Issues Examiner_
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Civil rights leaders smile from Heaven over Obama victory)
The First Thanksgiving, painted by _Jean Leon Gerome Ferris_
(Jean Leon Gerome Ferris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) (1863- 1930)
In less than two weeks, Thanksgiving will arrive. The need for celebration
may not come as easily for those who have lost their homes and have suffered
many misfortunes throughout the year. However, one should be thankful for just
being alive, shouldn´t they?
Nonetheless, I view Thanksgiving differently from others, even before this
current economic crisis. While I always have expressed "thanks" for the many
blessings God has bestowed upon me, with underserved communities experiencing
destitution, living in substandard housing, being unable to properly care
for their children; to afford health care; or to just overall survive, how
could I be happy? To know many people would be homeless or starving on
Thanksgiving certainly does evoke a "warm, light-hearted feeling".
The lives many Americans have experienced within the past few years,
especially within the past year, have been the "ordinary" lives of many individuals
for quite some time. Yes, the desolate life of others does intensify my
gratefulness; however, as is the case with many middle-class Americans, my family
has always been two or three paychecks away from homelessness. Still, this
suffering of which I think on Thanksgiving does not discriminate me from
others, as I am quite certain other Americans share the same sentiment. My view
of Thanksgiving differs given my ethnic background as an individual of both
African- and Native American descent. It is for this reason I always have held a
jaded view concerning Thanksgiving, knowing its true history- or the true
Native American story-- has yet to be published in many American history books.
In my eyes, Thanksgiving has never been about the Pilgrims-- and to many
Americans, I question if this is their sole source of celebration, as many
people blindly celebrate holidays and have no clue of their history. Although I am
sure many people celebrate Thanksgiving as a way to express "thanks," for
me, Thanksgiving serves as another remembrance of how my Native American
ancestors were maltreated; annihilated; ousted from their land; and consigned to
reservations, eradicating every trace of their pre-existing life.
Thanksgiving rehashes memories of how the hospital staff, in its refusal to
treat my great-great grandfather, sent him home to die from pneumonia because
he was Native American. Thanksgiving reminds me of how my great-grandmother
had "to pass" as a light-skinned black person to avoid being forced on a
reservation. When thinking of Thanksgiving, I recall how my Nation, the
Cherokees, was forced from its land in Georgia, leaving a "Trail of Tears." As I sit
around with my family and share thoughts while eating on Thanksgiving, I
think of how the very ingredients with which my food was prepared, had been once
picked by the hands of my Native American ancestors who served as slaves in
North Carolina and the Caribbean. Needless to say, I also think of my African
ancestors who toiled away in the fields to pick the very foods with which my
food was prepared. America, to me, is not the "Land of Pilgrim´s pride,"
but should be and is to me, the "Land of Native American pride".
The national holiday, "Thanksgiving," was not initially created in the way
most Americans have come to know it.
The history of Thanksgiving
Prior to European settlers, North America consisted of 10-16 million Native
Americans. Some researchers say there may have been nearly 30 million Native
Americans, prior to European settlers. Long before _Governor Winthrop_
(John Winthrop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) of _Massachusetts Bay Colony_
(Massachusetts Bay Colony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) proclaimed the first
Thanksgiving, Native Americans of North America had harvest celebrations for
centuries, praising the "Earth Mother" who bestowed upon them herds for hunting,
aquatic bodies for fishing, and plentiful crops for harvesting. Although these
harvest celebrations differed for each tribe across North America, there was
still a common belief amongst Native Americans that a "spiritual" being or
force had blessed them with life and longevity.
For hundreds of years, before Pilgrims had arrived in the "New Land" in
1620, Native Americans of North America encountered English and Spanish slave
traders, who had raided their villages. Needless to say, when the first set of
European settlers landed on Plymouth, Native Americans were a bit
apprehensive of having the Europeans on their land. However, _Tisquantum_
(http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squanto) , who is widely recognized as "Squanto" in
American history, spoke English and was able to communicate with the Pilgrims,
realizing they were sick and hungry. Thus, Tisquantum decided to show the
Pilgrims how to survive in America through harvesting crops, hunting, and
fishing. It has been argued how Tisquantum could have it in his heart to help the
Pilgrims after being thrice captured by European slaver traders, prior to
the Pilgrims' arrival. However, it is in Native American culture to have good
will and a generous heart. It is through these actions the Natives believed
they would receive blessings.
It is speculated the first Thanksgiving occurred in October 1621; however,
there are major date discrepancies. Some records report it lasted for three
days and included: fasting, prayer, religious ceremonies, and finally, the
shared meal. The _Wampanoag_ (Wampanoag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) people,
the tribe to which Tisquantum belonged, provided most of the food. However,
the first Thanksgiving was neither to share "thanks" nor to display "love and
affection" for one another as stories claim. The Wampanoag were actually
invited to the first Thanksgiving to negotiate a treaty that would grant the
Pilgrims rights to the Plymouth land. Since the Native American population
and its knowledge of America´s lands outweighed that of the Pilgrims, the
Pilgrims viewed Native Americans as a threat. By creating a treaty, the Pilgrims
would have the land "secured" for when more Pilgrims reached the "New World"
. Once more Pilgrims arrived, they could begin to conquer the Native
Americans and pillage their land. Until then, the Pilgrims would "play nice"
until the shift of power was transferred to them. Hence, the first Thanksgiving
is created.
Religion and a broken promise
cont.....
This Message is Reprinted Under the Fair Use
Doctrine of International Copyright Law:
_http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html_
(US CODE: Title 17,107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use)
************************************************** ***********
FROM:
_http://www.examiner.com/x-1207-DC-Youth-Issues-Examiner~y2008m11d17-A-Native-American-Thanksgiving_
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story
_ 4 comments _
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
November 17, 1:45 PM
by Aisha Ali, _D.C. Youth Issues Examiner_
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Dismantling Thanksgiving myths: a Native American story)
(D.C. Youth Issues Examiner: Civil rights leaders smile from Heaven over Obama victory)
The First Thanksgiving, painted by _Jean Leon Gerome Ferris_
(Jean Leon Gerome Ferris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) (1863- 1930)
In less than two weeks, Thanksgiving will arrive. The need for celebration
may not come as easily for those who have lost their homes and have suffered
many misfortunes throughout the year. However, one should be thankful for just
being alive, shouldn´t they?
Nonetheless, I view Thanksgiving differently from others, even before this
current economic crisis. While I always have expressed "thanks" for the many
blessings God has bestowed upon me, with underserved communities experiencing
destitution, living in substandard housing, being unable to properly care
for their children; to afford health care; or to just overall survive, how
could I be happy? To know many people would be homeless or starving on
Thanksgiving certainly does evoke a "warm, light-hearted feeling".
The lives many Americans have experienced within the past few years,
especially within the past year, have been the "ordinary" lives of many individuals
for quite some time. Yes, the desolate life of others does intensify my
gratefulness; however, as is the case with many middle-class Americans, my family
has always been two or three paychecks away from homelessness. Still, this
suffering of which I think on Thanksgiving does not discriminate me from
others, as I am quite certain other Americans share the same sentiment. My view
of Thanksgiving differs given my ethnic background as an individual of both
African- and Native American descent. It is for this reason I always have held a
jaded view concerning Thanksgiving, knowing its true history- or the true
Native American story-- has yet to be published in many American history books.
In my eyes, Thanksgiving has never been about the Pilgrims-- and to many
Americans, I question if this is their sole source of celebration, as many
people blindly celebrate holidays and have no clue of their history. Although I am
sure many people celebrate Thanksgiving as a way to express "thanks," for
me, Thanksgiving serves as another remembrance of how my Native American
ancestors were maltreated; annihilated; ousted from their land; and consigned to
reservations, eradicating every trace of their pre-existing life.
Thanksgiving rehashes memories of how the hospital staff, in its refusal to
treat my great-great grandfather, sent him home to die from pneumonia because
he was Native American. Thanksgiving reminds me of how my great-grandmother
had "to pass" as a light-skinned black person to avoid being forced on a
reservation. When thinking of Thanksgiving, I recall how my Nation, the
Cherokees, was forced from its land in Georgia, leaving a "Trail of Tears." As I sit
around with my family and share thoughts while eating on Thanksgiving, I
think of how the very ingredients with which my food was prepared, had been once
picked by the hands of my Native American ancestors who served as slaves in
North Carolina and the Caribbean. Needless to say, I also think of my African
ancestors who toiled away in the fields to pick the very foods with which my
food was prepared. America, to me, is not the "Land of Pilgrim´s pride,"
but should be and is to me, the "Land of Native American pride".
The national holiday, "Thanksgiving," was not initially created in the way
most Americans have come to know it.
The history of Thanksgiving
Prior to European settlers, North America consisted of 10-16 million Native
Americans. Some researchers say there may have been nearly 30 million Native
Americans, prior to European settlers. Long before _Governor Winthrop_
(John Winthrop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) of _Massachusetts Bay Colony_
(Massachusetts Bay Colony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) proclaimed the first
Thanksgiving, Native Americans of North America had harvest celebrations for
centuries, praising the "Earth Mother" who bestowed upon them herds for hunting,
aquatic bodies for fishing, and plentiful crops for harvesting. Although these
harvest celebrations differed for each tribe across North America, there was
still a common belief amongst Native Americans that a "spiritual" being or
force had blessed them with life and longevity.
For hundreds of years, before Pilgrims had arrived in the "New Land" in
1620, Native Americans of North America encountered English and Spanish slave
traders, who had raided their villages. Needless to say, when the first set of
European settlers landed on Plymouth, Native Americans were a bit
apprehensive of having the Europeans on their land. However, _Tisquantum_
(http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squanto) , who is widely recognized as "Squanto" in
American history, spoke English and was able to communicate with the Pilgrims,
realizing they were sick and hungry. Thus, Tisquantum decided to show the
Pilgrims how to survive in America through harvesting crops, hunting, and
fishing. It has been argued how Tisquantum could have it in his heart to help the
Pilgrims after being thrice captured by European slaver traders, prior to
the Pilgrims' arrival. However, it is in Native American culture to have good
will and a generous heart. It is through these actions the Natives believed
they would receive blessings.
It is speculated the first Thanksgiving occurred in October 1621; however,
there are major date discrepancies. Some records report it lasted for three
days and included: fasting, prayer, religious ceremonies, and finally, the
shared meal. The _Wampanoag_ (Wampanoag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) people,
the tribe to which Tisquantum belonged, provided most of the food. However,
the first Thanksgiving was neither to share "thanks" nor to display "love and
affection" for one another as stories claim. The Wampanoag were actually
invited to the first Thanksgiving to negotiate a treaty that would grant the
Pilgrims rights to the Plymouth land. Since the Native American population
and its knowledge of America´s lands outweighed that of the Pilgrims, the
Pilgrims viewed Native Americans as a threat. By creating a treaty, the Pilgrims
would have the land "secured" for when more Pilgrims reached the "New World"
. Once more Pilgrims arrived, they could begin to conquer the Native
Americans and pillage their land. Until then, the Pilgrims would "play nice"
until the shift of power was transferred to them. Hence, the first Thanksgiving
is created.
Religion and a broken promise
cont.....
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