Introduction
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrated in the United States and Canada. It is a time when people come together to give thanks for the blessings of the year. However, the history of Thanksgiving is not as simple as it seems. The holiday has a complex history that involves the mistreatment of Indigenous people.
The Real Thanksgiving
The story of the first Thanksgiving is often told as a friendly gathering between Indigenous people and Pilgrims. However, the reality is much more complicated. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 after the Pilgrims arrived in the New World. The Pilgrims celebrated their harvest with a feast, but this feast was not the first of its kind. Indigenous people had been celebrating the harvest for thousands of years before the Pilgrims arrived.
The Impact on Indigenous People
The arrival of the Pilgrims had a devastating impact on Indigenous people. The Pilgrims brought diseases that the Indigenous people had no immunity to, resulting in the deaths of many. The Pilgrims also took over Indigenous land and forced the Indigenous people to assimilate into their culture.
Indigenous Girls Real Thanksgiving
In 2016, Teen Vogue decided to create a video that showcased the real Thanksgiving from the perspective of Indigenous girls. The video features Indigenous girls from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. The girls share their thoughts on Thanksgiving and the impact it has had on their culture. They also share their own traditions and ways of giving thanks.
What We Can Learn
It is important to acknowledge the complex history of Thanksgiving and the impact it has had on Indigenous people. We can learn from the mistakes of the past and work towards a better future. We can also learn from the Indigenous girls in the Teen Vogue video and their traditions of giving thanks.
Conclusion
The real Thanksgiving is a complicated and often painful history. However, it is important to acknowledge this history and work towards a better future. The Teen Vogue video featuring Indigenous girls is a powerful reminder of the importance of giving thanks and the value of different cultures.