As we enter this holiday season, this resource is intended to support educators and families as we address the true story of Thanksgiving.
This guide provides resources that range from lesson plans to narratives that uplift the perspectives and contributions of the Native American community. This document, compiled by Center for Racial Justice in Education, is not meant to be exhaustive and will continually be updated as we are made aware of more resources.
Native American Perspectives, Contributions and Celebrations
- Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address – DanceForAllPeople.com
- Thanksgiving POV – Native American Heritage Programs
- American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving – The National Museum of the American Indian
- For Many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning – The Boston Globe
- The History of Thanksgiving from the Native American Perspective – Native Hope
- Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims? Thanksgiving from a Native American viewpoint is a different story – Nadra Kareem Nittle
- Thanksgiving 2017: Natives Americans reveal what they think about the day – Andrew Bumcombe
- Don’t be afraid to talk about the real history behind Thanksgiving (Video) – ATTN
- ‘We are still here:’ Native Americans dispel myths by living their truth – Washington Post
- Native American Resources about Thanksgiving – Friends Peace Teams
- Thanksgiving from an Indigenous Perspective – Smithsonian Voices
Teaching Approaches
- Discussing Thanksgiving With Kids: An Approach That Fosters Critical Thinking – Roots Connected
- A Culturally Responsive Approach to Discussing Thanksgiving in The Classroom – Linday Barrett
- Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combating Racism in Schools – Lindsey Passenger Wieck
- Teach the Truth This Thanksgiving – Learning for Justice
- Lessons and Resources to Teach Thanksgiving with Truth and Integrity – Planbook
- Culturally Responsive Instruction for Holiday and Religious Celebrations – Dr. Cynthia Lundgren & Giselle Lundy-Ponce
- Teaching Culturally Sensitive Holidays – Sherry Posnick-Goodwin (California Teachers Associations)
- Teaching Thanksgiving in a Socially Responsible Way – Learning for Justice
- ‘I Was Teaching a Lot of Misconceptions.’ The Way American Kids Are Learning About the ‘First Thanksgiving’ Is Changing – TIME Magazine
Lesson Plans/ Study Guides
- Thanksgiving Mourning (Lesson Plan) – Learning for Justice
- Relearning Thanksgiving (Lesson Plan) – ArtsandJustice.org
- The United States celebrates Thanksgiving Day today (Grades 5-12 Lesson Plan) – readwritethink.org
- Re-Thinking Thanksgiving: The Complete Story of an American Holiday (Graphic Organizers) – New York News Publishers Association
- Thanksgiving Interactive: You are the Historian – Plimoth Plantation
- Harvest Ceremony Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth: A Study Guide – The National Museum of the American Indian
- HAUDENOSAUNEE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS – The National Museum of the American Indian
- #StandingRockSyllabus, NYC Stands with Standing Rock
- Lesson plan: After helping Pilgrims, today’s Wampanoag tribe fight for their ancestral lands – PBS
Historical Resources
- No Thanks: How Thanksgiving Narratives Erase the Genocide of Native Peoples – Joanne Barker
- Re-Thinking Thanksgiving: Myths & Misgivings – Rethinking Schools
- PBS Series: We Shall Remain – PBS
- Thanksgiving: The annual genocide whitewash – Belen Fernandez
- Thanksgiving and the Conundrum of Cultural Racism – Scot Nakagawa
- Re-Thinking Thanksgiving Toolkit – Indigenous Solidarity Network
Resources for Families
- 10 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving About Social and Environmental Justice – Eve Bratman
- Forced to Dine With a Racist Uncle on Thanksgiving? Text This Holiday Hotline – Jorge Rivas
- A Letter to Parents About Thanksgiving – Understanding Prejudice
Book Lists
- 7 Thanksgiving Books for Kids Written From the Native Perspective – Cool Mom Picks
- Beyond the So-Called First Thanksgiving: 5 Children’s Books That Set the Record Straight – Indian Country Today
- Native American Children’s Literature Recommended Reading List – First Nations Development Institute
- Kids’ Books That Share True Stories of Native Peoples – Sharon Chang
- 50 Children’s Books Celebrating Native American and Indigenous Mighty Girls – A Mighty Girl