I’m a day late, but on Thanksgiving I try to honor the worst and best of our country. In remembering Native generosity, there is also our horrific history of genocide, germ warfare, breaking promises, and stealing land.
Yet, Lincoln institutionalized the holiday the same year he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which made the de facto end of slavery an aim of the Union war effort. So, I try to honor that step in bending the arc of history towards justice and rededicate myself to the continuing struggle for equity in redress of two of my country’s greatest crimes.