Unit 2: No Thanks, No Giving (1èreG_gr2)

 (At the follwoing of what we did last time)

We can hear one Native American man, who is in charge of the organization of the remembrance/the commemoration of what he calls a “thankstaking”.

Indeed, even if everybody thinks that the first Thanksgiving was in 1621, we have learned that it actually was in 1637 when  Governor Winthrop wanted to give thanks to the soldiers who killed Peqout Tribe at Mystic, Connecticut. On top of that, the settlers eventually stole their lands. Moreover, the historic propaganda and lies have created a referential illusion for most Americans who do not even know this sad reality unfortunately. One of the big struggles of this movement is to break the myth about this holiday.

Therefore, on the National Day of Mourning, observed on the same day as Thanksgiving as a form of protest, the goal is to denounce the genocide of the Native Americans’ ancestors and the stealing of their lands, besides it is to shed light on the truth on what really happened back then. On top of that, they also celebrate their lost culture. It is also an opportunity to exalt their feelings due to the great decline of their cultural world. On that day, to highlight the richness of their culture they do traditional dances and singing, they walk pass statues and monuments that pay tribute to their ancestors.

Homework: Learn the lesson.