Who were the Indians that celebrated that first harvest feast back in 1621, which we’ve been told was the 1st Thanksgiving? What happened to them?
Many of us were taught that the first Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, when the Wampanoag (wahm-pah-no-ahg) "eastern people" or "people of the dawn." and white settlers-think Mayflower 1620- celebrated a three day harvest festival together. This was not a “Thanksgiving, “ as Pilgrims viewed such celebrations as days of worship, in which they prayed to God in thanks for a specific event. A good harvest, victory in battle during the Revolutionary war, and sufficient rain were all viewed as reasons for a Thanksgiving.
The Wampanoag had lived in southeastern New England for over 12,000 years. Within 50 years of the 1621 harvest feast, the Indians were driven from their land and many died from disease brought by the Europeans. Today, there are less than 5,000 of their descendants. You can learn more about them by going to:
• Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
• Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
• Wampanoag people Wikipedia
According to The Mayflower Society, there are tens-of-millions of individuals descended from the Mayflower passengers.
Resources
Native Blood: The Myth of Thanksgiving
History of Thanksgiving Video
Thanksgiving History from the History Channel
No comments:
Post a Comment