7.15: How to Center Indigenous Peoples During Thanksgiving

First Name Basis Podcast

I made my “Untold Story of Thanksgiving” episode to help me — and hopefully you — understand the true, accurate history. As I think about the episode, I think it does a good job at correcting the history, but it still centers on the colonizers.

Because of that, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can better make Indigenous Peoples the center of our conversations and learning around Thanksgiving, and I knew just the right person to turn to to help me.

On this week’s episode, my dear friend Jalynne Geddes joins me to help unpack what we can do to center Indigenous Peoples. Jalynne is Nehiyaw from the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation and is the creator behind the Nehiyanahk Creations on Instagram, where she shares her work as an activist both through words and through her beautiful beadwork.

In this episode, you’ll learn more about how our Indigenous brothers and sisters feel about Thanksgiving, how to center them during this time and how we can teach our kids about this as well.

I hope by the end of this you have a clear understanding of what you can do in your family to decenter colonizers and instead give your focus to Indigenous Peoples this Thanksgiving.

Check out our Thanksgiving resources

Thanksgiving is this week, and we have a gaggle of free resources for you!

Want some ideas for how to talk to your kids’ teachers about teaching Thanksgiving in an inclusive, Indigenous-centered way? Head to firstnamebasis.org/teachingthanksgiving for some sample letters and a free download that you can send to teachers to get the conversation going!

Looking for ways to center Indigenous Peoples’ in your family’s Thanksgiving celebration? Head to firstnamebasis.org/thanksgiving to get some ideas sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3: “The Untold Story of Thanksgiving”

Jalynne Geddes’ Instagram @nehiyanahk_creations

Mark Ruffalo’s land acknowledgement at the Emmy’s

Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN