Happy Late Thanksgiving Holiday (Sort of…)

Hello all,

This is a late Thanksgiving (or what some call “Thanks-taking”) post to wish all a happy holiday and a good time with friends, family, and loved ones. Here is a clip from “After the Mayflower” from the We Shall Remain series that came out some years ago to give people a better idea, not the best idea, but better than what is floating around out there in popular culture and media, American mythology, and just plain old misinformation and prejudice. Remember three things: 1) Native Americans have their own side of the story, their version of the truth regarding Thanksgiving and you should ask them 2) Indigenous peoples live with the consequences of First Contact EVERYDAY, this is also known as historical trauma, and 3) Being thankful is a way of life for Indian people because it is a fundamental living philosophy for indigenous people everywhere meant for everyday, not just one day of the year.

Let us be grateful for all we do have, especially each other, and our continuing survival on our own lands. Prayers of thanks to our Creator.

Related articles

• Mumia Abu-Jamal “Some Who Feel No Reason For Thanksgiving” (unsettlingamerica.wordpress.com)

Day 12: “An American in New York” by LeAnne Howe

Today, we talked about this reading and how she introduces some very controversial topics which at the time of her writing this story in the 1980’s was something that was discussed hotly: immigration. In this modern day, it is still a contested subject around America’s foreign and domestic policies post 9/11 and continually rising racial tensions. Also, she talks about the unique Native American perspective of being indigenous and native to this land while more and more immigrants come to America and how the view from each perspective is different depending on your viewpoint and where you are coming from.

Related articles

• Personals : What Am I? (amandahiser.wordpress.com)
• Johnny Depp’s Tonto misstep: Race and “The Lone Ranger” (salon.com)

Welcome Native Tribal Scholars 2013!

Welcome to Introduction to Native Literature. This blog will serve as a place to keep your questions, comments, and on-going discussions about the material and lectures you have in class accessible online anytime, anywhere!

We welcome you to follow our journey this Summer of 2013 with Native Tribal Scholars Program participants and see their discussions as they learn at the UMASS-Amherst campus.