Unthanksgiving Day

Unthanksgiving Day

Honoring Indigenous Resilience

As Thanksgiving approaches, it's important to acknowledge that this holiday carries complex and often painful associations for Indigenous peoples. Amidst the traditional feasting and festivities lies a history of colonization, displacement, and cultural erasure. In response, many Indigenous communities and allies choose to commemorate Unthanksgiving Day, also known as the National Day of Mourning or Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony. 

History of Unthanksgiving Day

Unthanksgiving Day traces its roots to 1970 when members of the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) organized the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This event aimed to counter the myth of the first Thanksgiving and raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples in the United States. Over the years, the observance has expanded to include various ceremonies, protests, and educational initiatives highlighting Indigenous resilience, sovereignty, and resistance.

Why and How to Celebrate Unthanksgiving Day

Unthanksgiving Day provides an opportunity to honor Indigenous resilience, amplify Indigenous voices, and reflect on the true history of colonialism and its impact on Indigenous communities. Here's how you can celebrate:

1. Educate Yourself: Take time to learn about the history and ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples, including land dispossession, forced assimilation, and cultural genocide.
2. Attend a Sunrise Ceremony: Participate in an Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony or similar event in your community, offering prayers, reflections, and solidarity with Indigenous peoples.
3. Support Indigenous-led Initiatives: Donate to Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives focused on land rights, language revitalization, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
4. Amplify Indigenous Voices: Share articles, artwork, poetry, and other content created by Indigenous artists, activists, and scholars, amplifying their perspectives and experiences.
5. Honor Indigenous Treaties: Acknowledge and respect the treaties and land acknowledgments of the Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories you inhabit.

Tips for Sharing on Social Media

1. Land Acknowledgment: Share a land acknowledgment on social media, recognizing the Indigenous peoples whose traditional lands you reside on and expressing gratitude for their stewardship.
2. #UnthanksgivingDay: Use the hashtag #UnthanksgivingDay to share educational resources, personal reflections, and messages of solidarity with Indigenous communities.
3. Indigenous Art and Culture: Share Indigenous artwork, music, literature, and other cultural expressions on social media, celebrating the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures.
4. Call to Action: Share calls to action from Indigenous-led organizations and campaigns, inviting your followers to support Indigenous sovereignty and justice initiatives.
5. Community Dialogue: Foster meaningful dialogue on social media about the true history of Thanksgiving, colonialism, and Indigenous resistance, encouraging critical reflection and solidarity with Indigenous peoples.

How This Day Unites People Across the Globe

Unthanksgiving Day unites people across the globe by fostering awareness, empathy, and solidarity with Indigenous peoples and their struggles for justice and self-determination. Whether you're participating in a Sunrise Ceremony in the United States, attending a land acknowledgment event in Canada, or joining a virtual discussion from anywhere in the world, Unthanksgiving Day invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to come together in a shared commitment to truth, reconciliation, and Indigenous rights. By centering Indigenous voices, stories, and experiences, Unthanksgiving Day serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and cultural richness of Indigenous communities, inspiring collective action and solidarity in the pursuit of justice and healing.