Schools advise students to” change traditions to be more equitable and sensitive to traditional context.”
This month, at least five institutions held events or shared information on social media about “decolonizing Thanksgiving.”
The California Institute of Technology, Washington University in St. Louis, the University at Buffalo, the University of Maine, and the University of the Pacific all urged pupils to “reexamine” the significance of the trip.
Cal Tech’s Center for Inclusion &, Diversity stated in an Instagram post Tuesday that” ‘ Decolonizing Thanksgiving’ is a call to action, urging us to rethink, memorize, and develop our knowledge of Thanksgiving beliefs”.
” Through active learning, campaigning, and allyship, we can truly respect Maori and Native communities, acknowledge their contributions, and reflect on the true story of Thanksgiving”, the college stated.
Cal Tech even counseled students to “remember the National Day of Mourning, learn about the area we live on, and discover resources to overcome historical erasure.”
A French nonprofit that provides an interactive map of Maori territories and languages around the world was provided as a link in the article.
Also, WashU encouraged students to review” the story and tale of Thanksgiving from an aboriginal viewpoint” during an event on Nov. 22.
Kids gathered to” Learn about the holiday’s causes, the effects of invasion on Native American communities, and ways to recognize and honor aboriginal cultures and biographies”, its website says.
Students were encouraged to reflect on “how we may transform traditions to be more equitable and sensitive to historical context” during the event.
According to the occasion information, it also included “presentations from different cultural perspectives and a test of traditional Thanksgiving products from different ethnicities.”
On Nov. 21, UB hosted an event with the same name:” Decolonizing Thanksgiving”.
The gathering, which was organized by the Intercultural and Diversity Center at the school, prompted students to ask the question,” Is it appropriate to celebrate Thanksgiving and American colonialism’s history?” and” What can we do to recognize African areas on this day of mourning?”
According to the explanation,” We may redefine the meaning of Thanksgiving to honor and remember indigenous peoples ‘ narratives.”
Related events were held at the University of Alabama’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion. On Nov. 18, individuals gathered in the school’s Cultural Scholar Center for an “informative hours on the independence of Thanksgiving”.
Eventually, the University of the Pacific in California hosted an event on Nov. 14.
Organized by the school’s Local American Student Services, the gathering aimed to “take up the meaning behind Thanksgiving”.
Further: Universities teach learners how to ‘ liberate’ their Thanksgiving
IMAGE: Drazen Zigic
Follow The College Fix on Twitter and Like us on Twitter.
