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National Day of Mourning

National Day of Mourning

This monument stands on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Cole’s Hill overlooks Plymouth Rock and the waterfront. Every Thanksgiving since 1970, Native people and supporters gather at 12 noon on Cole’s Hill for a “Day of Mourning”. This is a solemn day in mourning of their ancestors, the genocide of their people and the theft of their lands.

National Day of Mourning monument, Plymouth, MA

 

Plaque reads; “Since 1970, Native Americans have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate the arrival of Pilgrims and other European settlers. To them, Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of their people, the theft of their lands, and the relentless assault on their culture. Participants in the National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native people to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and celebrate all the things we have to be thankful for, but I think it’s also important to remember the true history of Thanksgiving.

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