No thanks, no giving

NO THANKS, NO GIVING.

Axis 8 • Territory and memory

Does the current celebration of Thanksgiving reflect the historical reality?

index

Index

Poetry corner

Start

Making amends

Start

Reconsidering the myth

Start

Thanksgiving

Start

What do you know about Thanksgiving?

Create a mindmap based on the word "thanksgiving"

Create a mindmap based on the word "thanksgiving"

Tradition/meaning

Food

Thanksgiving

Origin

Thanksgiving explained to kids

STORY OF THANKSGIVING

Arrival of settlers

Problems

Watch the video and note down the main ideas. Then, answer the questions:

Solution and conclusion

What is the name of the speaking stone?

What is the story about the first settlers? Explain each step.

Where can you see this rock today?

Be thankful/grateful for + noun

I am thankful for the weather / my family / my house.

Be thankful/grateful for + V-ing

I am thankful for being young / being in good health.

Be thankful/grateful that + S+ V

I am thankful that I can go to school

Be thankful/grateful to + infinitive

I am thankful to be here today / go abroad next year / travel.

Say thank you for + noun

I say thank you for your help / presence / friendship / love.

Vintage Indian Land For Sale poster, USA, around 1911.

https://www.cagle.com/dave-granlund/2009/11/first-thanksgiving-hardships

Reconsidering the myth

A DAY OF MOURNING

THANKSGIVING

Positive

Negative

Watch the video and note down the words that the Natives associate with Thanksgiving.

Observe the list of words associated with Thanksgiving and classify them into positive and negative terms.

Compare it with the words that you wrote in your mindmap about thanksgiving.

malgré

although

même si

even though

but

alors que

despite

contrairement à

in spite of

mais

whereas

pendant que

still

quand même

while

pourtant

contrary to

bien que

yet

check

start again

contrary to

even though

although

whereas

despite

in spite of

Les subordonnées d'opposition et de concession.

although

whereas

even though

in spite of

although

even though

contrary to

while

but

Complétez les phrases suivantes en choisissant la conjonction qui convient.

despite

------------- the myth of Thanksgiving, the reality seems to hide a crude reality. The Native Americans, -------------- being massacred, accepted to help the English settlers. -------------- the historical events tend to condemn the celebration of Thanksgiving, today, the Americans celebrate this day -------------- for the Native Americans it is a mourning day. -------------- these differences, we should celebrate togetherness on this day and make amends to the Native Americans.

in spite of

whereas

still

while

contrary to

yet

National day of mourning

National day of mourning

Who when where what

Why do they consider this day as the National day of mourning? What is UAINE and what are their opinions about settlers? How do they celebrate that day and who can take part in it?

National day of mourning

Who when where what

Native Americans

on the 4th Thursday in November. This year, it falls on 24th November.

on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The National day of mourning

Why do they consider this day as the National day of mourning? What is UAINE and what are their opinions about settlers? How do they celebrate that day and who can take part in it?

Because their lands were stolen from their ancestors and they want to remember the genocide of millions of Native people.

It is a native association which sponsors the event.

There are marches and speeches. People also share food and drinks. Everybody can take part but only native American can make speeches

Compare the story told and the historical facts

Kevin Gover, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, offered this apology on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the ceremony of the 175th anniversary of the agency’s founding. “Let us begin by expressing our profound sorrow for what this agency has done in the past. Just like you, when we think of these misdeeds and their tragic consequences, our hearts break and our grief is as pure and complete as yours. We desperately wish that we could change this history, but of course we cannot. On behalf of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, I extend this formal apology to Indian people for the historical conduct of this agency.” “An Apology For the Treatment of Indians”, Kevin Gover, 2000.

In 2009, President Obama signed the Apology to the Native Peoples of the United States. “The United States, acting through Congress, apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States, [and] expresses its regret for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward a brighter future where all the people of this land live reconciled as brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together.” Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R. 3326), Section 8113: “Apology to Native Peoples of the United States.”

In 1864, peaceful Southern Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians are massacred at Sand Creek, Colorado. In December 2014, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper offered an apology for what happened at the Sand Creek Massacre. “On behalf of the State of Colorado, I want to apologize… To the runners, to the Tribal Leaders, and to all of the Indigenous people—and the proud and painful legacy you all represent— On behalf of the good, peaceful and loving people of Colorado, I want to say, I am sorry for the atrocity that our government and its agents visited upon your ancestors.” “7 apologies Made to American Indians”, Tanya H. Lee, NewsMaven.io, 2015.

This is the ground upon which we stand.This is the earth mother, the home land. Here we stand and will not be moved. Here our staunch resolve is proved. Here never more will our voices be muted, Even if our way of being is disputed, Even if our sacred stories are ignored, Even if our poetry is deplored, Even if our mouths are slapped, Even if they change the map. We will not be moved from where we stand. This is our home, our place, our motherland, Where the trees and land connect, Where the sky above reflects. The site of our future and memory, The home of our heart and family. This is the ground of our persistence, The site of our resistance. Ipperwash, Gustafsen, Lake Pakaitore, Chiapas, Restigouche, Hawai’i, Owen Sound, Oka, and Wounded Knee, This is the land of the sacred tree

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (1993)

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (1993)

You are a Native American student. Write a poem in the style of Kateri Akiwenzie-Dammto be read at the opening of the celebrations of the Native American day.

En rendant compte, en français, du document, vous montrerez que vous avez compris : - la nature et le thème principal du document ; - la situation, les évènements, les informations ; - l’identité des personnes ; - les différents points de vue ; - les éléments implicites du document ; - la fonction du document (relater, informer, convaincre, critiquer, dénoncer, etc.)

The scene takes places in Plymouth Massachussets on Thanksgiving day in 2014. It shows a demonstration. The demonstrators ask for justice. They are claiming their land. For them, it's a day of mourning because it celebrates the arrival of pilgrim and the start of a reign of tyranny and genocide. One woman interviewed explains that we shouldn't teach Columbus at school because he was a murderer and a rapist. There are two stories about Thanksgiving: the one taught in schools and the one told by native Americans, about a celebration of a massacre of 700 native people. A man speaks and says that since the arrival of Columbus, native people have been non stop victims of terrorism. Another man, called Barry Fabos, a white man, explains that, for him, it's complicated because he likes to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family but he also feels guilty because he realizes that he is on stolen land.