Schools urge students to ‘transform traditions to be more inclusive and aware of historical context’
At least five universities this month hosted events or posted on social media about the concept of “decolonizing Thanksgiving.”
The California Institute of Technology, Washington University in St. Louis, the University at Buffalo, the University of Maine, and the University of the Pacific all urged students to “reexamine” the meaning of the holiday.
Cal Tech’s Center for Inclusion & Diversity stated in an Instagram post Tuesday that “‘Decolonizing Thanksgiving’ is a call to action, urging us to rethink, relearn, and evolve our understanding of Thanksgiving traditions.”
“Through active education, advocacy, and allyship, we can genuinely honor Indigenous and Native communities, acknowledge their contributions, and reflect on the true history of Thanksgiving,” the school stated.
Cal Tech also encouraged students to explore “resources to combat historical erasure, recognize the National Day of Mourning, and learn about the land we reside on.”
The post provided a link to a Canadian nonprofit that offers an interactive map detailing Indigenous territories and languages worldwide.
Similarly, WashU encouraged students to reexamine “the history and narrative of Thanksgiving from an indigenous perspective” during an event on Nov. 22.
Students gathered to “Learn about the holiday’s origins, the impact of colonization on Native American communities, and ways to acknowledge and honor indigenous cultures and histories,” its website states.
The event encouraged students to reflect “on how we can transform traditions to be more inclusive and aware of historical context.”
It also included “presentations from various cultural perspectives and a sample of traditional Thanksgiving foods from different cultures,” according to the event description.
On Nov. 21, UB hosted an event with the same title: “Decolonizing Thanksgiving.”
Organized by the school’s Intercultural and Diversity Center, the gathering encouraged students to address questions such as “Is it right to celebrate Thanksgiving and America’s history of settler colonialism?” and “What can we do to honor this day of mourning for Native communities?”
“We can redefine the meaning of Thanksgiving to remember and respect indigenous peoples’ histories,” the description states.
UMaine’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion also hosted a similar event. On Nov. 18, students gathered in the school’s Multicultural Student Center for an “informative hour on the decolonization of Thanksgiving.”
Finally, the University of the Pacific in California hosted an event on Nov. 14.
Organized by the school’s Native American Student Services, the meeting aimed to “take back the meaning behind Thanksgiving.”
MORE: Universities teach students how to ‘decolonize’ their Thanksgiving
IMAGE: Drazen Zigic
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