The True History Of Thanksgiving

By Melina Kamaritis, Senior

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is known for unity and peace by many people who have been taught American history; however, there are always two sides to every story. 
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Native Americans are known to hold a very crucial part in the first Thanksgiving feast, but their story is often forgotten. According to “The Wampanoag Side of the First Thanksgiving Story,” as of 1970 Native Americans refer to Americanized Thanksgiving as “National Day of Mourning” as a day of protest, it is vividly seen that there was a negative aspect to the history of thanksgiving.

An account from the Wampnoag tribe details, there was no food to feed the Native Americans during the Thanksgiving. Instead, the Chief sent men to go hunting while the Pilgrims were eating in order to bring food for them to eat. Following the feast, the indigenous tribe and the Pilgrims had mutually agreed on a treaty to protect both of them, where neither party would attack the other; however, the Pilgrims proceeded to purge the population of Native Americans.

​As Thanksgiving grew to become a national holiday to honor the first harvest feast where the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together, members of the Wampnoag and other tribes became enraged and began to speak out about the hardships that their ancestors endured. Responding to this newly formed holiday, Native Americans began to regard to Thanksgiving as National Day of Mourning in remembrance of the tragic history of the relationship between the Pilgrims and the tribes.

Source: 
​Tirado, Michelle. “The Wampanoag Side of the First Thanksgiving Story.” Indian Country Media Network. 23 Nov. 2011. 18 Nov. 2017. Web.