I’ve heard so many stories over the years about the true origins of Thanksgiving. So, it is with interest that I read President Barack Obama’s proclamation that was issued today regarding the holiday. Obama tells us the day that began as “a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day’s roots are intertwined with those of our Nation, and its history traces the American narrative.”
If anyone would like to read the full text of Obama’s proclamation, here it is.
Are we all in agreement with this narrative? How many Native people actually celebrate the day.
When I was a reporter at the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo., I interviewed several Native students about the holiday. They said they didn’t celebrate it because it wasn’t part of their tradition. As for my experience, most of my Lakota and Mandan and Hidatsa relatives cook a turkey and enjoy the day with friends and family.
Jodi Rave