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THANKSGIVING
A
Lesson in Perception Versus Reality
By Kathy Sharp Frisbee
Independent Writer/Photographer
based in Falmouth on Cape Cod
Thanksgiving is one of the most American
holidays, honoring the perseverance and piety of the Pilgrims when
they arrived in 1620, and the moment when they and the Native
American Indians sat together, sharing all they had with one
another.
Our annual celebration is incomplete, however, without the greater
story of Thanksgiving in this new old world. It comes to us through
the best teacher - History - with a lesson in perception versus
reality.
For example, of world historical significance to Thanksgiving are
those who made it possible for the surviving Pilgrims to celebrate
that moment; those who expressed enormous compassion in the
Pilgrims’ time of desperate need; those who humbly provided most of
the bounty for that three-day feast, and who upheld their legacy as
leaders and peacekeepers. They, too, are worthy of honor for their
perseverance and piety as the original people, who had lived here
for thousands of years as citizens of the great Wampanoag Nation,
one of over 500 first
nations across this continent.
Miraculously, in light of the traumatic impact on this land’s
original people over the last 400 years, that historians describe as
“the greatest human catastrophe in history,” they are still here. On
Cape Cod, the survivors of that catastrophe are the Mashpee
Wampanoag, who hold firm to their heritage and are at once
traditional, modern and progressive.
The Mashpee Wampanoag are the only culture that was here at the
Cape’s genesis, arriving after the massive Laurentide ice sheet
melted. They are the only people who transcend time here. There is
no other culture on our planet like theirs, as every culture is
unique and every Native American Indian culture is distinct. For
these reasons and more, the Mashpee Wampanoag are a heritage of
world significance.
Missing from America’s young back story is the old old story of the
original people, that can only be seen clearly from historical
context. It is that high plateau above the river of time, where
history’s blinders of prejudice and stereotyping are absent and
truths are evident. Among them is this land’s equation of human
existence. The Mashpee Wampanoags’ timeline, for example, is
infinite and unending compared to the fraction of time represented
by European contact, which was a trickle before the Pilgrims arrived
and thereafter became a tsunami of immigrants from far and wide. |
Historians say the surge of Europeans culminated in the death of 10
to 30 million and possibly 100 million of this land’s original
people, decimating the world’s oldest civilizations here. The
Wampanoag Nation suffered the loss of 90 percent of its citizens.
This holocaust of humanity is recorded in history as The Great
Shame.
Glaring injustices to this land’s first founders shamefully continue
today. An example is one of America’s stated purposes and
highly-funded efforts for the Iraq war, which is to preserve and
protect the Iraqis’ ancient cultures and tribes. Yet, we fail to
show the same convictions to America’s ancient cultures and tribes.
Another example is today’s flourishing new trend in humanitarian
tourism. Millions of people drawn to these programs worldwide see
their endeavors as a way to achieve world peace. Americans, for
example, are helping Africa’s Maasai tribe “to improve their lives
while still maintaining their homeland traditions, and to give them
a measure of economic independence and allow them to support their
families.” If we can make these honorable good works happen for
ancient cultures of other lands, we can do so for America’s ancient
cultures, the Native American Indians, including the Mashpee
Wampanoag.
Learning all of history is our duty. Understanding that we cannot
change the past, but we can change the present and the future is our
duty. Seeing the Mashpee Wampanoag for who they truly are is our
duty. They are the Cape’s ancient and enduring first people with a
neverending nobility of spirit. They are the first environmentalists
and stewards of this land, whose chosen lifestyle preserved it as a
paradise for thousands of years. They hold historical sovereignty
and precedent to this their homeland, their holy land and their
birthright.
Part of the piety of Thanksgiving is honoring the wisdom of the
scriptures. They remind us of our duty as “our brother’s keeper” and
that “we are all brothers and sisters in the family of man.” They
remind us of the Almighty’s commandment that we, “Love one another
as you would love me.” Where is the love? It is in each of us. Let
it shine on all of us, including the Native American Indians, and
especially on the Mashpee Wampanoag, our brothers and sisters here
in our eternal family.
Kathy Sharp Frisbee
http://www.kathysharpfrisbee.com
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Photos:
1) Massasoit, Great Sachem of the Wampanoag Federation Sachem of the
Pokanokets Ousa Mequin "Yellow Feather" Born: 1582 Died: 1662
Bronze statue by Cyrus Dallin on Cole's Hill overlooking Plymouth
Harbor.
Inscribed: "To the Memory of Massasoit, Great Sachem of the
Wampanoag Federation,
who by his friendly disposition towards the whites, and his faithful
observance of his treaty obligations to them, has earned the undying
gratitude of humanity, this work is respectfully dedicated.
Improved Order of the Red Men of Massaschusetts, 1919
2) Blue Heron glides over Salt Pond in the mist.
3) Mishoons (canoes) crafted of burnt out logs along Eel River,
Plymouth.
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