For the Thanksgiving weekend, we pulled together a few recent, thought-provoking articles, podcasts and threads, from how to reduce waste to the story of Thanksgiving from the Indigenous perspective as well as an immigrant story of the holiday, and a Twitter thread that lifts up farm workers who bring us the food that graces our tables on this day. We hope these stories encourage reflection, and we wish you happiness and peace on this day. We are grateful for you!
How To Do Thanksgiving with Less Waste
“Gratitude and abundance are reciprocal things,” said Nikki Sanchez, an Indigenous scholar and documentary filmmaker. When we take from the land, she said, we should also give back — through growing, recycling, composting and replanting.”
Thanksgiving Lessons in Gratitude From My Grandmother
“For some of the [immigrant] families Lidia Marte studied [an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico who has studied Dominican immigrants in New York City], the turkey was also a marker of food security. If they could afford a turkey, it meant ‘they could join the national holiday and cook what everybody else did,’ Marte said. The Thanksgiving meal could be a bridge, between who they were before they migrated, and their adaptation to a new society.”
14 Stories of Resiliency and Food Justice in Indigenous Communities
“This year, we deepened that reporting on the myriad solutions Native people are applying to food insecurity, seed preservation, and sustained food sovereignty. In recognition of this resiliency, here is a list of our recent stories on hope, reconciliation, and justice in Native communities.”
The Thanksgiving Myth Gets a Deeper Look This Year
“Thanksgiving, of course, is a time for listening, a welcome opportunity for prayer, reflection and looking back, and many Indigenous people celebrate it in their own way.”
“Dana Thompson, a co-owner of the Sioux Chef, an organization in the Twin Cities devoted to revitalizing Native American cuisine urges anyone who asks to focus on ‘the true Indigenous wisdom that is behind the philosophy of Thanksgiving — it’s about not taking, but about giving back.’”
“This episode talks with Wampanoag scholars Paula Peters and Linda Coombs, who tell us the real story of Thanksgiving, from an Indigenous Perspective.”
They Welcomed Dozens for Thanksgiving.Now What?
“Social scientists use the term collective effervescence to describe the heightened sense of belonging and well-being that comes with a shared ritual. It’s what makes going to a concert or a baseball game feel so good. The spirit of the group is bigger than what anyone could experience individually. It’s one of the building blocks of culture.”
This remarkable Twitter thread from United Farm Workers invites folks to name their favorite holiday dish. Then United Farm Workers provide footage and information about the labor and people who help bring food to the table. “Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we’ll share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients. #WeFeedYou #ThankAFarmworker””