This past Sunday, we reflected on the stories that we are grateful for. You may have thought that the Thanksgiving story of the Pilgrims and the so-called "Indians" getting together for a feast was conspicuous by its absence among the stories that we shared.
And so it was. It turns out that there are many reasons to doubt the veracity of the story that we like to tell of the first Thanksgiving. There is a truth in the story: engagement across cultures can be a source of joy. But it's not clear that this "first Thanksgiving" actually fits that theme. I suspect we like to tell the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians sitting down together as a way of not having to focus on the genocide of First Nations peoples by Europeans. Ramona Peters, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, says that the Wampanoag weren't exactly invited to the celebration of the Pilgrim's first successful harvest. They heard a ruckus from their Pilgrim neighbors and wondered what was going on and went to investigate. (You can read an interview with Ramona Peters here.) We need to check our stories. Mount Pleasant is very fortunate to have access to the collection of stories that is the Ziibiwing Center!
On Thanksgiving in Syracuse, NY, a group called the Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation has for years sponsored a “Thanksgiving Circle of Peace and Hope.” Onondagas and Neighbors gather on the shores of Onondaga Lake to give thanks together. When I've taken part, we have simply arranged ourselves in a large circle, sharing who we are and what we are thankful for. Simple as it is, I still have found the gathering to be a profound event, affirming our ability to build community across and combining cultures. This is a story I am thankful for.
May we practice giving thanks everyday,
Rev. Joe
P.S. The tree of stories that we created Sunday was wonderful. Unfortunately, we had to take it down. I did save the tags with our stories, however, and I would love to see them displayed somehow at the Fellowship. Anyone have some ideas about how to do that? Let me know!
On Thanksgiving in Syracuse, NY, a group called the Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation has for years sponsored a “Thanksgiving Circle of Peace and Hope.” Onondagas and Neighbors gather on the shores of Onondaga Lake to give thanks together. When I've taken part, we have simply arranged ourselves in a large circle, sharing who we are and what we are thankful for. Simple as it is, I still have found the gathering to be a profound event, affirming our ability to build community across and combining cultures. This is a story I am thankful for.
May we practice giving thanks everyday,
Rev. Joe
P.S. The tree of stories that we created Sunday was wonderful. Unfortunately, we had to take it down. I did save the tags with our stories, however, and I would love to see them displayed somehow at the Fellowship. Anyone have some ideas about how to do that? Let me know!
