Thanks be to Thansgiving
Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. It's the only one where you get to have the whole family together for a big, celebratory meal without the added pressure of present-buying frenzies, enforced aging, religious dogmas, etc. Also, it's the only holiday with a message I really believe in.
The history of First Nation Peoples in Canada (and the U.S.) is something that I know shamefully little about, despite vague, inaccurate, Western-skewed lessons in elementary school history class. The more I learn about it as an adult, the more horrified I become about the way the Canadian government bullied and lied it's way into claiming ownership of this continent. You don't have to dig very deep to find a long list of broken promises and outright betrayals of the native people of Canada, perpetrated by John A. and the rest of the Confederate government.
In fact, if you want to be cynical, I am kind of surprised that Thanksgiving is an official, statutory holiday, since we tend to sweep most issues concerning the First Nations under the rug.
Thanksgiving is the prescribed day in which we North Americans remember the kindness of the early First Nations People to the arriving settlers on the shores of the St. Lawrence. So the story goes, kind native Canadians welcomed the pioneers, and taught them how to hunt, shelter and survive in the Canadian wilderness. We all know how we repaid their kindness.
So, I do believe Thanksgiving to be the most important celebration of the year. And I wish it wasn't relegated to just one day. This year, take the time to look around your big kitchen table and be thankful for what and who you have in your life. Even those of us with family issues, personal hardship and trauma can find something to be thankful about, if we look hard enough. After all, we are all here in this beautiful country, living peaceful and free lives.
p.s. Come celebrate with me on Saturday October 11th, at Bread & Circus in Kensington Market. I will be playing a bunch of new songs, and hosting a Thanksgiving Potluck. It's my first turkey, so come hungry!
The history of First Nation Peoples in Canada (and the U.S.) is something that I know shamefully little about, despite vague, inaccurate, Western-skewed lessons in elementary school history class. The more I learn about it as an adult, the more horrified I become about the way the Canadian government bullied and lied it's way into claiming ownership of this continent. You don't have to dig very deep to find a long list of broken promises and outright betrayals of the native people of Canada, perpetrated by John A. and the rest of the Confederate government.
In fact, if you want to be cynical, I am kind of surprised that Thanksgiving is an official, statutory holiday, since we tend to sweep most issues concerning the First Nations under the rug.
Thanksgiving is the prescribed day in which we North Americans remember the kindness of the early First Nations People to the arriving settlers on the shores of the St. Lawrence. So the story goes, kind native Canadians welcomed the pioneers, and taught them how to hunt, shelter and survive in the Canadian wilderness. We all know how we repaid their kindness.
So, I do believe Thanksgiving to be the most important celebration of the year. And I wish it wasn't relegated to just one day. This year, take the time to look around your big kitchen table and be thankful for what and who you have in your life. Even those of us with family issues, personal hardship and trauma can find something to be thankful about, if we look hard enough. After all, we are all here in this beautiful country, living peaceful and free lives.
p.s. Come celebrate with me on Saturday October 11th, at Bread & Circus in Kensington Market. I will be playing a bunch of new songs, and hosting a Thanksgiving Potluck. It's my first turkey, so come hungry!
posted by katherine at 1:44 PM
1 Comments:
Nice post... and will do my best to come!
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