“What is it about the story of ‘The First Thanksgiving’ that makes it essential to be taught in virtually every grade from preschool through high school?” begins the post  “Deconstructing the Myths of ‘The First Thanksgiving’ “ by Judy Dow (Abenaki).  This article includes 11 myths about the first Thanksgiving, notes and sources, recommended books about Thanksgiving, and primary sources from a colonialist perspective. Find this post and more under Resources at http://oyate.org.

A beautiful book for all ages is 1621 A New Look At Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac with Plimoth Plantation, published by National Geographic. This book has informative photos and drawings, factual information from a native point of view, timelines, and recipes. From the back cover: “In the fall of 1621, English colonists and Wampanoag people feasted together for three days. Join National Geographic and Plimoth Plantation for a new look at the real history behind the event that inspried the myth of The First Thanksgiving.”

Giving Thanks, A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp is a wonderful book that reminds us about the importance of being grateful for all that Mother Earth has provided for us.

The blogs listed here provide background information and appropriate classroom lesson/activity suggestions for teaching about the Mission Era in the California Native American Unit of study:

“Repeat after us, say no to the mission project.” from California History-Social Science Project at UC Davis; http://chssp.ucdavis.edu/blog/mission#.

“Dear Sierra:  An Open Letter To California Fourth Graders” (http://badndns.blogspot.com) and “Balancing ‘Gruesome details’ and 4th Grade Standards” (http://whenturtlesfly.blogspot.com) by Professor Deborah A. Miranda.

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese

The following well researched historical fiction books offer the native perspective in the Mission Era:

Mission The Birth of California, The Death of a Nation, by Margaret Wyman. (This book is about the Kumeyyay experience during the mission years.)

Pasquala, The Story of a California Indian Girl, by Gail Faber and Michele Lasagna. (This story is about a Yokuts girl in the early 1800’s in the Great Central Valley when the Spanish arrive.)

Lands of our Ancestors Book 1, by Gary Robinson. (This is the story of a Chumash tribe’s experience when the Spanish priests and soldiers arrive and the devastating consequences.) A Teacher’s Guide is available to accompany the book and provides a variety of standards based appropriate activities across the curriculum. Resources-Lands of our Ancestors Books

Many 4th grade teachers use Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell as a class literature study during the Native American unit of study. As a follow up, consider reading Dear Miss Karana by Eric Elliott. This engaging story is told by a ten year old Native American girl living on a reservation and attending a reservation school in Southern California. The story links the the life of Karana, the lone woman, and the native world today. This story is a rich resource of native culture and language and connects the past with the present. Also see: A Critical Look at O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins by Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo).