1. Who are the original people where you build your home? 

Recognizing the original inhabitants of the spaces we occupy through awareness-building and land acknowledgment practices is only a first step toward equity, but it is an important one. It only takes a couple of minutes to find out either via this web link: https://native-land.ca/ or by texting your zip code or your city and state (separated by a comma) to: (907) 312-5085 

Then, when making connections with native people, ask what you can do to help lift up their voices and honor and respect their sovereignty.  

2. Pay attention to language and names.

Honor and make changes to the dominant narrative that glorifies colonization and genocide of indigenous peoples of this area.  Problematic terms like “Pioneer Valley” are a reminder of that legacy of dispossession, removal and subsequent erasure, try shifting to “Connecticut River Valley”.

3.  Re-Thinking Thanksgiving

National Day of Mourning: Since 1970, Native Americans and allies have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US thanksgiving holiday. More information here: http://www.uaine.org/

Resource for teaching Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective from the National Museum of the American Indian Education Office: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgiving