BONUS BLOG: with an awareness and open heart, gratitude and community

Most folks don’t know this, but many Native Americans don’t “celebrate” Thanksgiving the way the rest of the country does. For us, it’s a National Day of Mourning. It’s a time to honor our ancestors, remember the truth of what happened on this land, and hold space for all the lives, cultures, and traditions that were nearly erased.

It’s not about guilt or pointing fingers. It’s about truth-telling. It’s about respecting the people who were here long before colonization, and acknowledging the pain, the resilience, and the stories that still deserve to be heard.

So while many gather for turkey and thanks, we gather in remembrance, in ceremony, and in strength. We honor our relatives who carried our traditions through generations of hardship. And we keep our culture alive by speaking openly about our history—because healing doesn’t happen through silence.

If you’re observing tomorrow, whatever that looks like for you, I hope you do it with awareness and an open heart. – PS- I personally love Thanksgiving dinner and I love hosting and cooking. For me it’s a moment of gratitude and community.