Favorite Five Ways to Celebrate Native American Heritage Day
Posted on Nov. 22, 2022 / Favorite Five / Subscribe 0
AUTHOR: Sarah Viaud Contact
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but this week officially starts the holiday season here in America! This Thursday is Thanksgiving, a day where it’s socially acceptable to eat a large meal, and then fall asleep watching football or holiday specials – what could be better than that? Let me tell you…the day after Thanksgiving. No I’m not referring to the day in our capitalistic society known as Black Friday (although there are some pretty sweet deals happening). I’m talking about Native American Heritage Day, a day that was written into law only 13 years ago as a way to honor culture, show rightful respect, and learn and educate ourselves on the original Americans. As a result, I wanted to share five ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Day:
- Learn About Your Native Land: Long before there were gorgeous brownstones, or even a harbor in Boston, native people lived in the city. This interactive map allows you to enter your exact address to see which native peoples may have lived on your land before the colonization of the US. From there, you can research the specific tribe(s) to learn about their culture and customs.
- Visit the ‘Hail to the Sunrise’ Statue: If you’re up for a bit of an adventure and need some fresh air, hop in the car and drive down Route 2, until it turns into the Mohawk Trail, an old trade route connecting the native tribes in Massachusetts to those in upstate New York. On this road, in Charlemont in northwestern Massachusetts, is a statue of a Native American honoring the new day, known as ‘Hail to the Sunrise’. This statue, which faces east to welcome the coming day, was unveiled in 1932 by sculptor Joseph Pollia. It was built to commemorate the five tribes who used this trail regularly, including the Mohican, the Wampanoag, and the Pocumtuck.
- Start Following Native Americans on Social Media: One of the best ways to learn about a culture and a lived experience different from your own is to listen and see those who are part of that culture. Diversify your feed this year, and start following some Native Americans sharing their culture, passions, and life stories on social media. Some great individuals include: Jordan Daniel (a professional athlete), Jasilyn Charger (one of the founders of One Mind Youth Movement), or explore the hashtag #nativetiktok.
- Shop Native Plants for your Spring Garden: Native Americans consider their connection to land and the environment sacred, and as such have a deep rooted knowledge of what plants support the native fauna living in different regions of the country. This website allows you to enter your zip code and get a search result of bulbs, shrubs, and seeds that would work best for your climate and help support your local ecosystem, honoring the preservation of land that is so important to native peoples.
- Shop at a Verified Native Owned Business: If you want to partake in some Black Friday traditions, why not check out some of these New-England based businesses, owned by members of the local Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe? Supporting the Native Americans who live in our area is one of the best ways to ensure their native culture endures.
Image: The Wampanoag tribe in Martha's Vineyard celebrating their cultural heritage at a local festival. Courtesy of martha's-vineyard.com.
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