Quick summary:
• The National Day of Mourning began in 1970 and is held annually in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• Indigenous participants mourn ancestors and protest systemic oppression.
• Thanksgiving is seen by many Native people as a symbol of genocide and cultural erasure.
• This year’s event emphasizes solidarity with Palestinian struggles and other global anti-colonial movements.
• Leonard Peltier, a Native activist imprisoned for nearly 50 years, remains a focal point for justice advocacy.
• Attendees aim to dismantle myths about Thanksgiving and highlight Indigenous resilience.
• Donations are encouraged for Indigenous and Palestinian causes rather than commercializing the event.
The National Day of Mourning, an annual event held on Thanksgiving since 1970, challenges the sanitized and romanticized narrative surrounding the Pilgrims and their arrival in the Americas. It commemorates Indigenous resilience in the face of systemic genocide, land theft, and cultural erasure, while also serving as a powerful protest against the continued oppression of Native peoples.
Organized by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE), this year’s event takes place at Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts, overlooking the symbolic Plymouth Rock. Beginning at noon on November 28, 2024, it will feature Indigenous voices, a march through Plymouth’s historic district, and a livestream for those unable to attend in person. The National Day of Mourning is a solemn occasion, but it is also a political act of resistance, connecting past atrocities to ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities worldwide.
The National Day of Mourning originated in 1970 when Wamsutta Frank James, a Wampanoag leader, was invited to deliver a speech at the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing in Plymouth. Organizers rescinded their invitation after learning James intended to speak candidly about the suffering of Indigenous peoples. In response, James and other Indigenous leaders established the National Day of Mourning, turning Thanksgiving into a day of remembrance and protest.
Thanksgiving, widely regarded as a celebration of harmony between Pilgrims and Native Americans, obscures the violent reality of colonialism. The arrival of European settlers marked the beginning of genocide, mass displacement, and cultural annihilation for Indigenous peoples across the Americas. UAINE describes Thanksgiving as a day that “reminds us of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the erasure of Native cultures.”
At its core, the National Day of Mourning is a solemn remembrance of Indigenous ancestors and their sacrifices. Participants fast from sundown the previous evening until the afternoon of the event, reflecting on the suffering endured by their forebears. The gathering is also a platform for political activism, connecting historical atrocities to contemporary issues such as environmental destruction, systemic racism, and ongoing colonialism.
This year, UAINE emphasizes global solidarity, particularly with Palestinians facing forced displacement and violence. The event draws parallels between Indigenous struggles in the U.S. and anti-colonial movements worldwide, declaring, “From Turtle Island to Palestine, colonialism is a crime.”
The event’s speakers are exclusively Indigenous, ensuring that Native perspectives remain central to the narrative. They address both historical injustices and modern challenges, such as the incarceration of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who has been imprisoned for nearly five decades. Peltier’s case, widely criticized as a miscarriage of justice, symbolizes the systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples in the United States.
Jeremy Stoner, a regional director for Save the Children, underscores the enduring relevance of these issues: “The war in Gaza is a war on children. There is no plainer way to illustrate this than to look at the people who make up the death figures.” His comments reflect the broader theme of this year’s National Day of Mourning, which highlights the interconnectedness of struggles against oppression worldwide.
For many participants, the National Day of Mourning is both a spiritual and political act. The event combines mourning with activism, using fasting, storytelling, and collective action as tools for healing and resistance. The march through Plymouth’s historic district is a powerful symbol of reclaiming space and challenging narratives that have marginalized Indigenous voices.
Participants are urged to respect the solemnity of the occasion by refraining from eating or distributing leaflets during the event. Non-Native supporters are welcomed as allies but are reminded that the day centers Indigenous perspectives and experiences.
This year’s event incorporates measures to protect public health, including mask requirements and limited seating for Elders and disabled attendees. UAINE also discourages the commercialization of the event, asking participants to focus on its political and spiritual significance.
While the National Day of Mourning is deeply rooted in Indigenous issues, its message resonates far beyond Plymouth. UAINE encourages donations to organizations supporting Palestinians and other oppressed groups, reinforcing the event’s theme of global solidarity.
The National Day of Mourning is more than a commemoration; it is a call to action. UAINE urges attendees and supporters to challenge the Thanksgiving myth, support Indigenous communities, and amplify voices demanding justice. Donations to causes such as the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Gaza Mental Health Foundation are encouraged, alongside contributions to UAINE’s ongoing advocacy work.
By confronting historical and contemporary injustices, the National Day of Mourning aims to create a “true awareness of Native peoples and history,” as UAINE describes. It challenges the profit-driven systems of white supremacy, settler colonialism, and environmental destruction introduced by European settlers.
As UAINE states, “Together, we create a true awareness of Native peoples and history, and stand against the unjust systems that continue to oppress.”
For more information, please visit United American Indians of New England.
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