TRUTHSGIVING

Ah... November. It’s National Native American Heritage month! November is a complicated month for many Indigenous people in the United States.

The month of fallen leaves and lots of food and...a false narrative.

I’m sure you know the story. It’s the one we all learned in elementary school. The story where Natives brought food to the pilgrims and they had a beautiful meal together. Except, that’s not what happened at all. You can read the true account here.

I’ll warn you... it’s not an easy read.

If you’re Indigenous, you probably already know the true story. If you’re not, I really want to encourage you to take a look.

I also love this article because it gives alternative ways to celebrate – Truthsgiving instead of Thanksgiving:

• Celebrate Indigenous recipes
• Share resources for allies
• Acknowledge whose land you’re on
• Support Native-lead initiatives

There's even links to a couple of documentaries.

Modern Thanksgiving in America is a time to spend with family, eat good food, and reflect and be thankful for what we have.

By all means, let’s continue that. But let’s also begin to really recognize what it means to be Indigenous in America.

A true “thanks” for supporting AISES and our mission.

Ta‘Tura Tsiksu (With Much Respect),

Sarah EchoHawk

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma

AISES Chief Executive Officer