Food for Thought: The Thanksgiving Story

What does Thanksgiving mean to you, and how do you celebrate it? Is it a day to spend time with family and friends? Is it a time to eat lots of delicious food? Is it a time to be thankful for the positive things in your life? As you can see, this holiday can mean different things to different people. For Native Americans today, answering the questions above is not so simple. Join Darlene Kascak from the Institute of American Indian Studies (IAIS) Museum and Research Center to discuss the myths and misconceptions surrounding this holiday. From documents written at that time and from Wampanoag oral histories, you will find the history of Thanksgiving is more surprising than you might think.

Darlene is the IAIS Outreach Ambassador & Traditional Native American Storyteller and a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Her experience as an educator, tour guide, and Traditional Native American Storyteller has taught her the importance of educating both young and old about the many misconceptions and stereotypes about her ancestors. Her truthful and compassionate style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view has allowed over 10,000 children and adults the opportunity to have a new understanding of Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples' lives both in the past and in the present.

Free program - no registration required.

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