By: Fernando David Márquez Duarte

The “Thanksgiving” celebration in the US is based n a myth.

A myth that perpetuates colonial oppression.

A myth that made ‘coloniality of being’ pervasive.

It is preached in the US that the invaders (pilgrims) invited the indigenous people to thank them.

It is preached that the invaders gave a grand dinner to the indigenous people.

It is preached that the invaders respected the indigenous people and their lands.

Then I wonder, how did the invaders thank indigenous people?

By killing them?

By taking their land?

By destroying their sacred lands?

By erasing their culture?

I also wonder, did the invaders really gave a grand dinner to indigenous people? Or did they took their animals? Or did they ate their whole essence and culture to disappear it?

I then wonder, how the invaders respected indigenous land?

By taking them with violence?

By forcing indigenous people to live in extremely reduced territory, taking their connection with the land?

The suffering of indigenous people is further continued culturally by celebrating a false story that is used as a marketing strategy to foster consumerism and capitalism.

“Thanksgiving” has turned into an empty celebration, which most people don’t know what it means and which is centered in a turkey, which indigenous name is actually guajolote.

Let’s not perpetuate colonial oppression by idolizing a guajolote or consuming just for the sake of it.

Let’s commemorate this day as what it truly is:

A day of mourning for indigenous people, a day that reminds us that the colonial oppression that indigenous people has suffered continues in the present, as well as the colonial oppression against all BIPOC people and people with disabilities.

A day where we support indigenous people and their causes.

A day where we respect and learn about indigenous culture and traditions.

A day where we don’t appropriate indigenous identity. If you don’t belong to a specific indigenous group don’t describe yourself as indigenous and take that identity from them; support them without appropriating.

A day where we incorporate land acknowledgement into our daily practices (in my case, towards the Cucapáh people, as well as the Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño and Serrano people).

A day where we donate (if we can) to indigenous groups and causes.

A day to decolonize ourselves in all dimensions of our life.

Náhuatl: Amo Tlazohcamati! Ipan Mahtlactli huan ce cozcacuauhtli Niyolcueciuhtoc:

No thanksgiving! In November 26^th I’m sad.