National Day of Mourning
'No giving thanks for colonialism'
By Mahtowin Munro
Plymouth, Mass.
More than 500 people, from all the four directions, braved
bitter cold to participate in the 33rd National Day of Mourning
in Plymouth, Mass., on Nov. 28. The event is organized annually
by United American Indians of New England (UAINE).
Native people from many nations were in attendance, as well
as many non-Native supporters, providing a powerful
demonstration of unity. The co-leaders of UAINE particularly
acknowledged the presence of Palestinian supporters, noting
that "Their struggle is one with our struggle."
According to Moonanum James, a Wampanaog and co-leader of
UAINE, "Our very presence frees this land from the lies of the
history books, the profiteers and the mythmakers. We will honor
all peoples' ancestors in struggle who went before us."
Several of the speakers honored those who had died during
the past year. All spoke of the true history of the European
settlement of the Americas and the importance of teaching
children that truth.
After a speak-out during which many speakers called for
freedom for Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier, Day of
Mourning participants marched through the streets of Plymouth.
During a street rally that blocked traffic on the waterfront by
Plymouth Rock, Raul Ruiz (Mexica), part of the Danza Azteca
group that led the march, called upon participants to "crush
the rock and all that it represents."
This annual Native American protest of the mythology
surrounding the Pilgrims and "Thanksgiving" first occurred in
1970 after an attempt to suppress the truth.
Wamsutta Frank James, an Aquinnah Wampanoag man, had been
invited to address a gathering sponsored by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts commemorating the 350th anniversary of the
landing of the Pilgrims.
Because Wamsutta was going to talk about how the coming of
the Pilgrims and other European colonialists brought about the
devastation of the Wampanoag and other Native peoples in the
northeastern U.S., officials of Massachusetts demanded that he
follow a script that they would provide.
Wamsutta refused, and as a result Native and non-Native
people gathered in Plymouth and declared U.S. "Thanksgiving
Day" a National Day of Mourning. UAINE and their supporters
have gathered, in good or bad weather, every year since.
Sadly, the conditions of racism and poverty in Indian
Country that prevailed in 1970 continue today. For example, as
Moonanum James pointed out, "Many Native people are forced to
choose every winter between heating and eating. As the economy
crumbles and social programs are eliminated altogether, these
conditions will only worsen. "
Reprinted from the Dec. 12, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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