Assignment 14 - Dylan Spradlin

Thanksgiving means different things to different people. For some it is a time to reflect and be grateful for all one has. For others, it can be a lonely time full of lost relationships and regrets. Some families use this national holiday to reunite with family members in celebration of the family itself, as our family does. We realize that Native Americans do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the way that it is depicted in remembrances of the pilgrims and Native Americans coming together as friends enjoying a shared feast. For Native Americans, the holiday is a time to revere the sacrifices of ancestors who fought for the right to keep their lands and traditions. This knowledge makes our family’s Thanksgiving holiday a somber one. We try to keep alive that spirit of hope for better times. Native Americans are said to have an invisible history as much of their life and values have been trampled and forced out of sight. We try to bring these values of cherishing family, respecting everyone in our family group, and feeling good about being together as a group into the forefront on this day. It is a good anniversary to remember what’s important, and to remember what we all are thankful for.