Although I think there are ways to think about this through a different lens other than genocide or the current oppression Native Americans face, we can think about how we should hone in on the giving<\/em> part of Thanksgiving, especially because giving thanks is a central part of Native American culture<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then I think the next question would be: then how should I recognize Thanksgiving? It\u2019s important that we start off by educating ourselves about Native American culture. Many people don\u2019t know this, but November is Native American Heritage Month<\/a>, the day we famously call Black Friday is Native American Heritage Day<\/a>, and Thanksgiving Day is a day that Natives mourn<\/a> the millions of Natives who have died from genocide, the theft of Native land, the berating of Native culture, and the oppression and racism that Natives face today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might be thinking to yourself, how do I go about celebrating Thanksgiving now knowing this? I think that when celebrating this holiday, it\u2019s important to recognize the dark history of its past and to teach other people around you the misconceptions of how Thanksgiving came about. Think about ways, you can give back to those who don\u2019t have much. You can do this by going to a homeless shelter or volunteering at a health clinic for some time on Thanksgiving. Reflect and think about what you are grateful for, like your community, the creation or nature around you, similar to how Natives celebrate the autumn harvest. The important thing is to make sure that we are educated about the truth of this holiday and that we are becoming a part of the bigger cause to stop the ongoing oppression of Natives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out these resources to stay educated and informed about Native culture and the holiday Thanksgiving:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The History of Thanksgiving from the Native American Perspective<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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