I did not set out to write a “Thanksgiving” book. I wanted to write about harvesting animals. Would it be sheep, goats, cows, chickens, rabbits, turkeys? The story that came to me was that of our annual turkey harvest…which happens to be for Thanksgiving. So voila! A Thanksgiving-associated book was born.
So why do I even bring it up? Well, I have complex feelings about the US holiday we call Thanksgiving. While my family celebrates the harvest of the season and being with family and friends during that time (not necessarily just on Thursday), I am aware of how many people, especially Indigenous families, feel grief about the complicated and often brutal history of settlers being in this country. Not necessarily something to celebrate!
The complexity deepens as I am of settler heritage in a direct way: my maternal ancestors “settled” in John Day, Oregon, home of the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes. My paternal ancestors “settled” in North Dakota (I’m not sure exactly where) and in San Jacinto, California, home of the Luiseño and Cahuilla people. My ancestors most certainly displaced and/or did direct harm to the Indigenous people.
I know that I did not choose my ancestors, that I cannot change history. But I still feel grief around my family’s role in the destruction of many peoples’ lives. So, there’s that.
What do I do in this time and place, with this history, with my current wishes to steward this land that we live upon? And knowing that we make income directly from this holiday that celebrates the “settling” of the USA?
First, I acknowledge where I live, who have come before on this particular spot, and who still surround us. I acknowledge that our farm is located on the unceded Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish Peoples who have reserved treaty rights to this land— specifically the Lower Skagit, Swinomish, Suqamish, and Snohomish tribes. I thank these stewards who have lived, and continue to live, on this land since time immemorial. Our hope is that by continuing to steward the land in respectful ways and support Indigenous voices being heard, we can continue our quest to be in Right Relationship with all beings on and in this Earth.
On Thanksgiving, we will donate to Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre and Sogoreate Land Trust. This will be an ongoing tradition of donating to Indigenous led non-profits or groups. No, it does not undo the damage or ameliorate the generational guilt, but it is something. We can all do something to honor all those who came before as well as work towards a more peaceful and just world. Lofty goals, I know, but ones I must believe in.
Follow this link to find additional Indigenous non-profits to support.