As Thanksgiving approaches, I feel the energy of excitement and warmth building in so many homes. Families are getting ready to get together, friends are making plans and there is a shared anticipation of the time spent around the table. Thanksgiving, at its best, is a time to stop, reflect, and be thankful for the blessings in our lives. We come together and acknowledge the challenges we've faced, the resilience we've cultivated, and the joy we've shared. Personally, I feel deep gratitude for each of you—your support, kindness, and commitment to connecting with the natural world and each other.
I am also deeply grateful for our beautiful Mother Earth, for forests and mountains, rivers and oceans, plants, animals, sun, stars and moon. Everything I do—whether it's writing, teaching, or building community—wouldn't be possible without this life support network and the amazing people who share my journey. As we come together this season, let's remember to give, walk gently, and listen to the lessons that nature and our communities share with us.
Walking in two worlds
November is also Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the diversity, resilience and thriving cultures of indigenous peoples. As many of you know, I am a councilor and citizen of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians. Thanksgiving holds mixed emotions for me. Like many, I celebrate this time with food, family and gratitude, but I also use it as an opportunity to reflect on the impact of colonization on indigenous peoples and to honor the resilience and strength of my ancestors. I walk in two worlds—embracing the beautiful aspects of Thanksgiving while honoring the truth of our shared history.
For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a complicated holiday. The popular story of the “first Thanksgiving” often obscures the true history of colonization and the suffering it brought to indigenous communities. It is a story that has been retold through a colonial lens, masking deeper truths. This Thanksgiving, I invite you to join me in taking steps to decolonize the holiday. Let's create a Thanksgiving rooted in honesty, respect and awareness.
