"When you build a lesson on only half of the information, then you are not teaching the whole truth."-Chuck Larsen, teacher, historian, American of Indian heritage When I think of how Thanksgiving was taught to me I have some clear memories of elementary school. We dressed up as pilgrims and Indians, and we put on a play for our families. I also remember drawing pictures that I was so proud of that looked a lot like the skit: pilgrims and Indians sharing corn and pumpkin pie and turkey. When I reflect on these common activities that happened in schools (I hope they still don't) when I was young I cringe to think about what was taught to me and how I believed that to be truth for so long. Do you have memories of lessons in school or at home that are similar to mine? When did you finally learn the truth around Thanksgiving? Today think about what you know/don't know as the truth around the “First Thanksgiving” and reflect on how you interact with your students around the content. Simply put...when we know better, we do better. What my teacher asked us to do was not right. We appropriated a culture by dressing in stereotypical outfits as we created headbands to wear. The Wampanoag people did not wear the elaborate headdresses depicted in European paintings of the “First Thanksgiving” (The depiction of them in headdresses breaking bread with the pilgrims is not historically accurate). There is a difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. In order to appreciate, students must understand the historical context of such dress, the religious and cultural significance, the ways in which Indigenous peoples have been oppressed and their culture appropriated. Without such understanding, students cannot appreciate the culture for what it is. While my elementary teacher’s goal may have been to engage her students and have “fun” dressing up as First Americans to help us relate to history, it was not the right way to go about it. Objecting someone’s culture is not about being politically correct--it’s about recognizing that wearing someone else’s culture as a costume diminishes the significance of their cultural dress, and is particularly harmful when there is a history of oppression related to it. I think it’s important that we accurately teach history- especially so our student don’t end up like me (or maybe you too?) who felt as though I was misinformed/lied to by my teachers/adults in my life. Students are forming their ideas about how they interact with the world, and how the impacts of historical events ripple through to today. Presenting a false narrative about the “First Thanksgiving” and the Wampanoag people allows students to frame the relationship between Indigenous peoples and white European colonizers in a way that softens or outright erases the unconscionable violence and destruction of nations that took place in the 1600s and beyond. While November is Native American History Month there is trouble in only teaching about Indigenous peoples for one month. We perpetuate the idea that they shouldn’t be taught/discussed year round. This also goes for Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and others. With all of this being said I have a some resources both for teachers and students and below I have share some tips as you move through this topic. Tips
--Resources/Lessons/Articles-- This resource has a ton of links within it to support your learning as well as your learning with students: Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combatting Racism in School Good article: www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/Teach-the-Real-Story-of-the-First-Thanksgiving.shtml Lessons: Myth vs Truth: The First Thanksgiving (By exploring myths surrounding the Wampanoag, the pilgrims, and the "first Thanksgiving," this lessons asks students to think critically about commonly believed myths regarding the Wampanoag Indians in colonial America) www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/myth-truth-first-thanksgiving-65.html More Resources: Classroom activities for exploring Native Americans Blast stereotypes with across the curriculum activities for students of all ages. The "first Thanksgiving" -- a feast of activities Looking to cook up a feast of across-the-curriculum fun? The table is set with a plentiful selection of ideas. Dig in.
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