It is good and right for American Christians to give thanks today, indeed, everyday (Ps 9:1; Phil 1:3). But, as I have grown in fellowship with Native Christians, Wampanoags in particular, my feelings about our civic celebrations of Thanksgiving have evolved. /1
I’ve become increasingly uncomfortable with Thanksgiving celebrations that portray “Pilgrims” and “Indians” feasting together harmoniously, knowing the violence towards and dispossession of Natives that would soon follow. /2
To be clear, the Christian faith of the original settlers appears to be genuine and honorable, their Godward gratitude expressed that day exemplary. But so also was that of Christian slave owners in the days of chattel slavery. /3
Yet, despite such discrete instances of biblical righteousness, the historical backdrop of that first Thanksgiving feast was the unrighteous enterprise of colonialism, dispossession, and murder. Alas, our civic celebration of Thanksgiving is Columbus Day with better food. /4
It should matter to Christians that many Wampanoag natives, 90 of whom were participants in that first Thanksgiving feast and some of whom are now brothers and sisters in Christ, are today gathered at Cole’s Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, for a day of mourning. /5
In the words of one Wampanoag elderess and historian: “Thanksgiving Day for the Wampanoag conjures up sadness and is more of a dilemma because of the brunt outcome of invasion and colonization. Today many Native Americans view Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning.” /6
To be clear, I’m not belittling or rejecting the value of a nationwide day of thanks. Truly, it’s amazing that millions of people will pause today to give thanks. We’d be a healthier nation if we did this on a more regularly. /7
But followers of Christ should be careful to untether our corporate thanks for God’s many gifts, especially the gift of salvation, from sanitized narratives of our nation’s past. We should do this in love for our Native brothers/sisters, that we might give thanks together. /8*
