East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

If you haven't noticed by now, I love history. During holidays, when tradition and nostalgia add their weight, history becomes especially impactful. This month is no different as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day! We all know the story of how the virtuous pilgrims began the practice of a Thanksgiving Feast with the friendly local Wampanoag Tribe, who taught them how to hunt and grow corn. Together, they lived happily ever after. At least that is the history we like to remember in November. We may never know the truth of that Autumn in 1621, but we do know enough to know the story above is not quite accurate.

The first contact between the Pilgrims and the Native Peoples was anything but warm and peaceful. Both sides feared and mistrusted the other. With reasons for tensions to be high, the multi-day feast that we call "The First Thanksgiving" was probably tense (not unlike many modern Thanksgiving dinners with family) as both sides anticipated violence to break out at any moment. I'm sure the participants were walking on eggshells the whole time, and I bet there were misunderstandings, and maybe even intentional jabs. Yet, that doesn't mean Thanksgiving is a sham. Look at what else happened.

The two peoples spen