Giving thanks
What is Thanksgiving like on the Navajo Nation? Thanksgiving is paper turkeys adorning my classroom door with all that we’re thankful. Thanksgiving is a whole community gathering for a turkey dinner on Wednesday in the cafeteria. Thanksgiving is going around the cafeteria and getting hugs from a dozen moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and aunties who barely looked twice at me last year. (And reminders from them to not party too hard this weekend in Washington, D.C.)
For all who wonder what it’s like to teach and celebrate Thanksgiving with Native Americans, I have no real insights for you. From popping in and out of elementary and secondary classrooms at my school, it appears that Thanksgiving is taught much the same way it was taught to me in grade school: Native Americans, Pilgrims and turkey. But more importantly taught is the spirit of thankfulness and being with family and friends—lessons that should be taught year-round. However, it is interesting to note that my school does not take a holiday for Columbus Day; instead, we get Navajo Sovereignty Day off in April. :-)
Comments
I've been reading your interesting blog lately, but the note about not celebrating Columbus Day on the reservatioin really caught my attention! I can't wait to relate this to my wife, who is 1/4 Choctaw. What an insight. Made my day.
Keep up the great blog.
JJ
Posted by: John Jarboe | November 27, 2006 9:26 AM
Interesting comment that Thanksgiving was being taught the same way as your childhood memories. How deep did you delve into what is being taught at your current school? I would like to bet that it is NOT taught the same, even if the players (pilgrims, Indians, turkeys) are. Let me know what you find out!
Posted by: jane harstad | November 28, 2006 5:15 PM
Great success story... you must feel very proud.
Posted by: emily coca | November 30, 2006 11:14 AM
Hi,
I was wondering why my post written a couple of weeks ago, is not here? Did you object to something in it?
RESPONSE:
Hi Sasha,
Thanks for reading the blog. I just saw your comment from earlier in the day regarding a missing comment. I honestly have not seen that comment from before. I make it a policy never to delete a comment unless it's inappropriate (such as when someone asks me for a good time). Please feel free to leave what you remember of your previous comment again-- I look forward to reading it!
Jessica
Posted by: Sasha | December 9, 2006 2:29 PM
I just wanted to comment that this entry was very inspirational and helpful to me. I also teach on the Navajo Nation, and I was trying to come up with a Thanksgiving lesson for my religion class. Your comments made me stop analyzing an angle and just think about what Thanksgiving is to me: a time to see my family and be thankful that all of those people are in my life. Therefore, this is the angle I'm going to present, so thank you for your insight.
Posted by: Veronica | November 20, 2008 11:25 PM