Serving the Native American Side of Thanksgiving

Just issues, news, and other stuff that matters to you [Fusion] November 24, 2016 “The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.” —[Joy Harjo], “Perhaps the World Ends Here” I hate to interrupt your poultry-induced coma, but it turns out Thanksgiving might have been one of our earliest examples of [fake news]. No need to skip that second serving of [sweet potato pie] though. Just join us by taking a moment to reflect on Native American stories and cultural contributions. If you want to prepare your food the way the indigenous side of the original Thanksgiving table did, [peep this recipe] that became the basis for New England clam chowder (which will def make you wonder [why we don’t see more Native American restaurants]). Or brush up on Native American [literature]—this [Joy Harjo poem] is one of our favorites. As the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe continue to be assaulted in [increasingly brutal], violent ways for protecting their land, please be aware of the challenges many Native Americans continue to face [in their homes] and [in their communities]. And please, please, for the love of all that is good and holy: Let’s [ditch the offensive mascots already]. Wait—[who’s] playing the Cowboys tonight? —[Anne Branigin] TODAY IN... THE COLOR OF WATER In Standing Rock, North Dakota, and in Flint, Michigan, the fight for clean water reveals [deep racial and economic inequality]. PROTECTORS NOT PROTESTORS This Native American activist tells us what it’s like to be considered [a trespasser on your own land] (and if you want to catch up on all the latest, [watch this]). POWER TO THE PEOPLE Check out [this amazing street art] that honors the strength of legendary indigenous leaders. STAND WITH STANDING ROCK As the showdown between police and #NoDAPL demonstrators gets more intense, there are still plenty of [people you can talk to] and [things you can do to help]. PASSING THE TORCH This young Native woman’s documentary short, [Smoke That Travels], captures her father’s language before it vanishes. THE READ [Why These Native Americans Are Spending Thanksgiving Mourning] by Carla Javier Cole’s Hill is a quiet park in Massachusetts which sits across the street from Plymouth Rock, the historic symbol of the Pilgrims and their founding of New England. But today, it will be filled with hundreds of Native Americans—and rather than celebrate Thanksgiving, with its supposed backdrop of unity between white and Native people, they will gather there for a Day of Mourning. The first Day of Mourning was organized by the United American Indians of New England. It was held on Thanksgiving Day in 1970, after Wamsutta Frank James, a Wampanoag leader, was asked to give a speech at a dinner commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing. After the organizers of the dinner read his draft–which painted a less rosy picture of the pilgrims–they cancelled his appearance.[Read more]. LET'S TALK ABOUT VICTORY SONGS Native American rapper [Frank Waln] knows struggle. A member of the Sicangu Lakota tribe, Waln had [no role model] growing up for the type of truth-telling he’s doing in [his music]. Now, he confronts the pain of erasure, depression, and marginalization for a new generation of listeners. “We are a living, breathing prophecy,” said Waln in a recent [THE FADER] interview. “We are the answers to our ancestors’ prayers.” The Latest [Who gets to be Native American?] [Read More] --------------------------------------------------------------- [How you can have the perfect doomsday prepper's Thanksgiving dinner] [Read More] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Vine] [Instagram] [Youtube] Remember, you can always [click here to unsubscribe] and never see another one of these emails until the apocalypse (at which time it'll be nothing but emails). This email was sent to {EMAIL} Fusion · 419 Lafayette St · New York, NY 10003 · USA