Holistic and Somatic Therapy in California
On Thanksgiving Day, we express our gratitude for our blessings and our loved ones, yet we should also use this holiday to honor the indigenous lives harmed and lost at the hands of our ancestral settlers.
Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to giving thanks. Given everything our indigenous friends and neighbors have sacrificed for us, it's long past time that we incorporate new traditions into the Thanksgiving canon, ones that celebrate and support the people and tribes who are still suffering due to this country's colonial history.
Here are some ways to show your appreciation for indigenous lives this Thanksgiving Day:
🍂 Find out what tribes are indigenous to the areas where you live and work using the Native Land map and acknowledge them at your Thanksgiving feast. For example, our offices in Berkeley and Richmond occupy land belonging to the Karin, Ohlone, Muwekma, and Chochenyo tribes.
🍂 Incorporate indigenous culture into your celebrations. Open your Thanksgiving dinner with a reading from an indigenous author or buy your fall decorations from a local indigenous artist.
🍂 In lieu of mashed potatoes and pies, ask your guests to bring a small donation to an organization that upholds the rights of native peoples. Ideas include the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women and the American Indian College Fund.
Everyone's lived experience is different and, for some, Thanksgiving may not be a happy occasion. It's important that we acknowledge that and use what privilege we have to give back to our indigenous friends and neighbors.
This Thanksgiving, count your blessings as usual... but among them, make sure to count the hardships endured by indigenous people so that you could have a safe and happy home on this land.
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