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Thanksgiving for many is a time for giving thanks for the many blessings we receive. My daughters brought home some homework from school recently about Thanksgiving. I have read much on the accounts from the Native American culture perspective. Now understand that the perception from one culture to another, changes and over time the stories seem to get murky as each add more to the original.

I would like to add some information that I have run across about my ancestors perspective on what really occurred on that first thanksgiving. My ancestors welcomed the majority of the immigrants to these shores. Though they were careful as for many years before there had been many of these ships passing through that had raided villages and taken my ancestors as slaves. Much of this is documented but not talked about in great detail. This happened up and down the coast to as far south as Florida . That is well established from all accounts. There was little conflict initially to these new immigrants from the original inhabitants. Conflicts did not arise until after they were settled and decided that my ancestors were savage and the need to conquer and take more than was needed. We all know about and read that the pilgrims invited the Natives to enjoy their bountiful harvest after their much needed help in establishing the colony. This is the story we all grew up with and continue to hear about. Understand that the first settlers were fearful of the Natives as they were small in numbers and the established tribes throughout the Americas were powerful to protect themselves from other tribes.

There were a large number of original inhabitants among various tribes throughout the Americas when the Europeans came to this land. That number was reduced significantly over the years through war and disease brought here by outsiders. From the Wampanoag oral history about that first Thanksgiving, it was not so much an invitation for a feast but an invitation to discuss a treaty and a deal to secure land for the pilgrims. It should also be noted that the Wampanoag brought the majority of food for this feast. The friendship and celebration was guarded at best as the trust that was felt was not taken as sincere. So when reading about the first thanksgiving, remember that much that is propagated in regards to this first feast. It is not always what it seems and was not the pretty picture you may see painted.

We all have things to be thankful for and should take this time to thank those that came before us. It is a time in which we should remember. Through it all my ancestors prevailed and being of both sides, ( Shawnee , Cherokee, German, English, French, Swiss, Swedish, Scot and Irish) I know that not all came here to just take and not return. Obviously, through what ever reason with the guidance of the Creator, my ancestors married and lived in two worlds and survived. May we all be thankful and respect each other. Knowing the truth of the past will let us build a better future.