Who's on First?

https://native-land.ca/?fbclid=IwAR3tpaWnZd0TXrwMJMdh2D_WIfI5ZENIymaAOxSZZ-AkObpWkxF1lISt7Tw

When Thanksgiving and Columbus Day come along, I strongly reflect on why these holidays aren't what they seem. They reflect a privileged view of the land we walk upon, live in and work on. A view that favors a white majority perspective and dismisses the people who were here first - and, despite centuries-long efforts, are still here.

We all are on the traditional and ancestral land of First Nation and indigenous peoples. Let's acknowledge that not just on holidays like these, but every day. Acknowledge, support and be allies to indigenous communities and support their lives and work now. It's important to educate ourselves on the real history of our country.

We can start by seeing where indigenous people land's were as well as their treaties and languages. Click here to access the crowd-sourced, interactive map seen above as well as explore other great resources from Native Land, a Canadian not-for-profit organization.

If you haven't already, please read Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous People's History of the United States. And the 2019 adaptation of this book for youth by Jean Mendoza and Dr. Debbie Reese is an important milestone in making realistic history on indigenous peoples available to youth.

Know better, be better.