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As Thanksgiving approaches, I feel the energy of excitement and warmth building in so many homes. Families are preparing to come together, friends are making plans, and there’s a shared anticipation of time spent around the table. Thanksgiving, at its best, is a time to pause, reflect, and be grateful for the blessings in our lives. We come together and acknowledge the challenges we’ve faced, the resilience we’ve cultivated, and the joy we’ve shared. Personally, I feel deep gratitude for each of you—your support, your kindness, and your commitment to connecting with the natural world and each other.
I’m also deeply grateful for our beautiful Mother Earth, for the forests and mountains, rivers and oceans, plants, animals, sun, stars, and moon. Everything I do—whether it’s writing, teaching, or creating community—wouldn’t be possible without this supportive web of life and the wonderful people who share my journey. As we come together this season, let’s remember to give back, to walk gently, and to listen to the lessons that nature and our communities share with us.
Walking in Two Worlds
November is also Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the diversity, resilience, and thriving cultures of Indigenous Peoples. As many of you know, I am a councilwoman and citizen of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians. The Thanksgiving holiday holds mixed emotions for me. Like many, I celebrate this time with food, family, and gratitude, yet I also use it as an opportunity to reflect on the impact of colonization on Native Peoples and to honor the resilience and strength of my ancestors. I walk in two worlds—embracing the beautiful aspects of Thanksgiving while honoring the truth of our shared history.
For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a complicated holiday. The familiar story of the “first Thanksgiving” often obscures the real history of colonization and the suffering it brought to Indigenous communities. It’s a story that has been retold through a colonial lens, masking the deeper truths.
This Thanksgiving, I invite you to join me in taking steps toward decolonizing Thanksgiving. Let’s create a holiday rooted in honesty, respect, and awareness.
8 Ways for Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Honoring Indigenous Heritage
If you’re interested in bringing a more mindful, informed approach to Thanksgiving this year, here are some ways to get started:
1. Learn About the Land You’re On
Use the Native Lands App to discover the Indigenous Peoples and languages associated with the land you call home. Understanding whose land we live on is a first step to connecting with its history and honoring the original stewards.
2. Understand the True History
Thanksgiving, like Columbus Day, is layered with reminders of the suffering Native communities endured—and continue to endure. Exploring this history through a Native lens can broaden our understanding. Resources like The True Indigenous History of Thanksgiving by Alexis Bunten and A Wampanoag Perspective on the First Thanksgiving offer insights from those who were directly impacted.
Here are a couple more:
3. Decolonize Your Dinner
Indigenous chefs are reviving traditional recipes and encouraging people to honor their ancestors through dietary choices. This Thanksgiving, try incorporating Native-inspired dishes or ingredients. Recipes shared by Indigenous chefs can help us reconnect with the original foods of this land.
4. Listen to Indigenous Voices.
It was the Wampanoag People, the People of the First Light, that encountered the Pilgrims when they arrived in Turtle Island from Europe in 1620. Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States, mythologizing the violent events that followed European arrival into a story of friendship and mutual sharing. But the reality is that the Wampanoags’ generosity was met with genocide, and this truth has been systematically suppressed in the US education system, government, and popular culture. Listen to an interview with Cedric Cromwell, the Tribal Council Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Nation.
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5. Read Native Authors and Illustrators
Native voices have been overlooked for generations, and sharing their stories helps honor the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous Peoples. For those interested in exploring Native authors, one invaluable resource is Debbie Reese’s Native Americans in Children’s Literature, which provides insightful recommendations and highlights Native perspectives in children’s literature.
I’m also thrilled to mention my daughter, Kate Gardiner, a talented illustrator who works with Native authors to bring authentic portrayals of Native life to children’s books. She collaborated with Stacy Drouillard on A Family Tree and has a beautifully illustrated new book, Firefly Season by Cynthia Leitich Smith, available for preorder. Through her illustrations, Kate captures the richness of Native stories, helping to build a more inclusive and genuine collection of literature for young readers.
More Resources:
6. Share Positive Representations of Native People
Project 562 showcases contemporary Native America and Canada with grace, beauty, and style. Celebrate these representations, which reflect the beauty, strength, and contemporary life of Native Peoples.
7. End Racist Native Mascots in Sports
Native American mascots persist in many schools and professional sports, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Check out Abolishing Racist Native Mascots: A Toolkit for Change. Get involved in initiatives like #NotYourMascot or #ChangeTheName to support ending these representations in your community.
 Decolonizing Thanksgiving |
8. Attend a Day of Mourning Gathering
Each Thanksgiving, gatherings are held to honor the Day of Mourning, acknowledging the tragic history of Native Peoples. These gatherings are often held at significant sites like Plymouth Rock. Participating can be a powerful way to stand in solidarity and honor the truth of history.
Embracing Thanksgiving with Gratitude and Awareness
This season, I encourage all of us to deepen our gratitude, embracing not only the joy of family and friends but also the opportunity to understand the fullness of our shared history.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, for your openness, and for your support in honoring both the beauty of the natural world and the truths that come with it. I wish each of you a day filled with gratitude, warmth, and thoughtful reflection. May we celebrate together in a way that honors our connections to each other, to the Earth, and to the diverse cultures that shape us.
In peace and gratitude,
Barbi
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Beautifully written. Thank you for the abundance of resources and information! I am excited to bring to my family the understanding of what Thanksgiving should truly mean. I’ve never felt the need to comment on something before, but in the spirit of the holidays, just wanted to share how grateful I am for your posts. You bring hope and restore some faith in humanity despite all that is wrong with the modern world. Also, I can’t wait to read your daughter’s books to my two babies. Thank you Barbi 🙏🏼
Thank you for your beautiful comment! I’m so grateful the message resonated with you, and I’m thrilled you’ll share my daughter’s books with your little ones. Wishing you a meaningful and hope-filled holiday! 🙏🏼💛