Emily Kalberer

Staff Writer

I’m only 19, and I remember learning about the Pilgrims and the Indians.

Every year in elementary school, when November rolled around, it was time to learn about the holiday at the end of the month: Thanksgiving.

You know, when the Pilgrims sat down and ate a nice friendly meal with the “Indians?”

I learned about how to express gratitude, and what I should be thankful for. I painted my hand to look like a turkey on paper, and I even made headbands with feathers to look like the “Indians.”

We were taught how the “Indians” showed the English pilgrims to hunt, fish, and survive on new lands, in exchange for some English goods as well as backup protection from other tribes.

As I got older I became more educated learning that the so called “Indians” are not Indian at all, and are instead Native Americans.

I eventually learned that the celebration was less than friendly, and Thanksgiving is actually a day of mourning and protest for the Wampanoag Tribe.

When I thought about it, I was so surprised that I learned the things I did in school. Aren’t the teachers supposed to know better, and be more educated?

I was interested to see what current and future educators are going to do to combat misinformation, and to lead a more educated general public.

“I, for one, am going to really emphasize how they are Native Americans, not Indians. That wasn’t brought up until like what, fourth or fifth grade?”

Middle level social studies education major Elijah Martindale stated.

“Even though the Pilgrims really thought that’s who they were, they weren’t and we can teach what the Pilgrims thought while not constantly addressing Native Americans incorrectly.”

“I would make sure to teach that the relationship between the Natives and the Pilgrims wasn’t exactly friendly or sunshine and rainbows like we were taught that it was,” Martindale said when asked about how he will be changing the Thanksgiving narrative.

Similarly, Amanda Kalberer, who is a second grade teacher, believes in proper education of the holiday.

“I focus a lot on teaching them gratitude, and showing different examples of what my students could be grateful and thankful for, like family, friends, health, school and so much more.”

“We also discuss how the Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower, and had a feast with the Native Americans. I definitely make sure to refer to them as Native Americans and not Indians like I learned when I was in school,” Kalberer said.

“It is important to me to teach my students as best as I can, and I am sure my teachers did the same. But, time went on, and I became older and more educated, and I learned that some of the things I was taught in school weren’t correct.”

“It is now my job to teach the future generations correctly, and to make that difference, and make the general population more educated on things than we were growing up,” Kalberer stated.

In the end, while we may have been taught incorrectly, it is possible to unlearn and relearn things the proper way.

It is important that as we gather around the table with family and friends, that we also take a moment to reflect upon the significance of the celebration.

As we give thanks, we must also remember the true story of Thanksgiving and how harmful it was to large groups of people.

Continuing to educate, acknowledge, and appreciate the culture of those different from us, and to shed awareness to the truth behind traditions is going to continue to be at the forefront of my mind this holiday season, and I hope that such is the case for many Americans this year.