The Potawatomi hold their own oral traditions linked to astronomy, and learning about these customs ensures teachings survive for generations to come while simultaneously creating a sense of balance between the past, present and future.
While communing with loved ones and showing appreciation for the bounties and gifts provided is one positive aspect of Thanksgiving, teaching a false narrative of its beginnings perpetuates colonialism and ignores more than 400 years of atrocities committed against Native Americans and First Nations’ people.
Culture, warfare and assimilation all play significant parts in the history of Native Americans and infectious disease, spanning from the 1600s to present day.