Understanding the Meaning Behind National Day of Mourning
Story by Nina Alegre
Edited by Abigail Vela
National Day of Mourning and Thanksgiving are both held on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, they will fall on November 28.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center from November 12-17 this year found that around nine in ten Americans (91%) celebrate Thanksgiving and that most Americans (74%) plan to have Thanksgiving dinner with others this year.
Whether you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving by having a turkey dinner with your family and closest friends, we hope to help you understand what National Day of Mourning is and why it is crucial to understand Indigenous people’s true history and to listen to their voices.
Origins Behind National Day of Mourning
National Day of Mourning serves as a day of reflection, remembrance and solidarity with Indigenous peoples. It is a day reserved for acknowledging the history of colonization and its impact on Native communities.
According to Wamsutta Frank James’ granddaughter and one of the leaders of United American Indians of New England (UAINE) Kisha James, in 1970, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the 350th anniversary of the Mayflower landing asked Aquinnah Wampanoag activist and schoolteacher Wamsutta Frank James to speak for a banquet.
When the coordinators saw an advanced copy of Wamsutta Frank James’ speech, they refused to allow him to give it, labeling it too “inflammatory.” The coordinators offered to rewrite Wamsutta Frank James’ speech, but he refused to have words put into his mouth.
As a response, Wamsutta Frank James, along with other Native people, created what is now known as “National Day of Mourning,” an Indigenous response to Thanksgiving.
How to Participate in National Day of Mourning
Ways in which you can participate in National Day of Mourning include:
- Joining gatherings or ceremonies organized by Indigenous communities to honor their heritage and share their stories.
- Expressing your support and solidarity with Indigenous communities by participating in rallies, marches, or peaceful protests.
- Acknowledging and respecting the land you occupy, recognizing that it may be the ancestral territory of Indigenous peoples.
You can also show your support by attending National Day of Mourning and being a non-Native ally to the community.
Nationally, the National Day of Mourning will occur at Cole’s Hill (above Plymouth Rock), Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thursday, November 28, at noon.
In the RGV, you can support the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe by attending a free screening of the film “A Teaching of the Hands” at the ENTRE Film Center.
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