More Than Turkey: A Guide to Canadian Thanksgiving with Indigenous Perspectives
For many Canadians, the second Monday in October means a long weekend, a massive turkey dinner, and maybe some pumpkin pie. It’s a time to gather with family and friends and give thanks. Simple, right?
Well, not exactly.
Like many things in Canada, the story we’ve been told about Thanksgiving isn’t the whole story. For the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples on whose land we live, this holiday is loaded with a much more complex history. It’s a history of colonization, broken promises, and immense loss.
So, how do we hold both truths at once? How can we feel gratitude while also acknowledging a painful past?
This isn’t about canceling Thanksgiving. It’s about making it better. It’s about adding more seats to the table—metaphorically—and listening to the voices that have been silenced for too long. This guide is for anyone who wants to move beyond the surface-level celebration and engage with the holiday in a more meaningful, respectful, and honest way.
The Thanksgiving Story We Know (And The Parts We Don’t)
Most of us learned a pretty straightforward tale in school. The first Canadian Thanksgiving was in 1578, when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew, after a failed search for the Northwest Passage, held a ceremony in what is now Nunavut to give thanks for their safe return. Another popular story credits Samuel de Champlain and the French settlers who, in 1606, started an “Order of Good Cheer” to feast with their Mi’kmaq neighbours.
These stories paint a picture of friendship and mutual celebration. The problem? They conveniently skip over what happened next.
These early encounters were the beginning of a long and devastating process of colonization. The arrival of Europeans led to the seizure of Indigenous lands, the destruction of cultures, the spread of deadly diseases, and the implementation of violent policies like the residential school system.
For Indigenous peoples, the narrative of a friendly shared meal glosses over a history of betrayal and genocide. As the Assembly of First Nations has consistently highlighted, national holidays often celebrate the very history that led to the oppression of their peoples. It’s a day that can feel less like a celebration of harvest and more like a celebration of the successful colonization of their lands.
So, when we only tell the happy Frobisher story, we’re erasing the truth. And truth has to come before reconciliation.
What Thanksgiving Means from an Indigenous Perspective
There isn’t one single Indigenous perspective on Thanksgiving. With over 630 distinct First Nations in Canada, plus Métis and Inuit communities, experiences and opinions vary widely. However, some common themes emerge.
A Day of Mourning
For many, Canadian Thanksgiving is a painful reminder of the beginning of the end of their way of life. It represents the loss of land, sovereignty, and culture. Some Indigenous people observe it as a day of mourning, fasting, or quiet reflection on the resilience and survival of their ancestors. It’s a stark contrast to the feasting happening in many Canadian homes.
The Original Thanks-Giving Peoples
Here’s the irony: giving thanks is a cornerstone of virtually all Indigenous cultures. It wasn’t an idea imported by Europeans.
Indigenous traditions have always included ceremonies and daily practices centered on gratitude for the harvest, for the land, and for the gifts of the Creator. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, for example, has the Thanksgiving Address, also known as the “Words That Come Before All Else.” This is an ancient prayer that expresses gratitude for every part of the natural world, from the people to the earth, the waters, the plants, the animals, and the stars.
The point is, Indigenous peoples were already deeply connected to the concept of gratitude long before settlers arrived. The issue with the national holiday is that it co-opts this concept while ignoring the people and the history it’s built upon.
How to Start the Conversation at Your Dinner Table
Talking about this stuff can feel… awkward. You might worry about saying the wrong thing or starting a family argument. But silence doesn’t help anyone. The key is to approach it with curiosity and humility, not judgment.
Here are a few questions to get a real conversation started, moving beyond “What are you thankful for?”
- “Did you know the history of Thanksgiving in Canada is more complicated than we learned in school?”This is a great, non-confrontational opener. It invites people to learn with you. You can share the story of Martin Frobisher and then add the context of what that arrival meant for the Inuit in the region.
- “I was thinking about whose traditional territory we’re on right now. Does anyone know?”This is a powerful way to connect the holiday to the physical land you occupy. If you don’t know, look it up together! Websites like Native-Land.ca are fantastic resources. This simple act acknowledges that we are all guests on Indigenous land.
- “Instead of just what we’re thankful for, how can we show our thanks through our actions this year?”This shifts the focus from passive gratitude to active reciprocity—a core Indigenous value. Is it about supporting a local food bank? Donating to an Indigenous organization? Committing to learning more about the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
Remember, the goal isn’t to make anyone feel guilty. Guilt is paralyzing. The goal is to foster understanding and inspire action.
Creating New, Respectful Thanksgiving Traditions
Ready to put your learning into practice? Here are some meaningful ways to decolonize your Thanksgiving celebration and build new traditions that are inclusive and respectful.
1. Make a Meaningful Land Acknowledgment
Don’t just say the words. Before you eat, take a moment to acknowledge the traditional stewards of the land you’re on. A truly meaningful acknowledgment goes beyond a rote script.
- Be specific: Name the specific Nation(s) and treaty territory.
- Reflect on your relationship to the land: Why is this place important to you?
- Commit to action: What will you do, beyond these words, to support Indigenous sovereignty? Maybe it’s committing to reading the TRC report or supporting a local Indigenous-led initiative.
2. “Indigenize” Your Dinner Plate
This is a delicious way to honor Indigenous cultures. Instead of the standard colonial fare, incorporate foods that are native to Turtle Island (North America).
- Shop from Indigenous producers: Seek out Indigenous-owned farms, fisheries, or businesses. Buy wild rice from a company like Bineshii Wild Rice. Try traditional teas or spices.
- Cook with Indigenous ingredients: Think squash, corn, beans (the “Three Sisters”), cranberries, wild salmon, bison, maple syrup, and sunchokes. There are incredible cookbooks by Indigenous chefs like Sean Sherman (“The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen”) that can inspire you.
3. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Actions speak louder than words. If you have the means, consider making a donation in lieu of, or in addition to, your Thanksgiving feast.
- Support Indigenous-led organizations: Donate to groups working on food sovereignty, language revitalization, or supporting residential school survivors. Organizations like the Indian Residential School Survivors Society or the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto are great places to start.
- Pay your “rent”: Some non-Indigenous people are choosing to make voluntary payments to local Indigenous Nations as a way of acknowledging their use of stolen land.
4. Educate Yourself and Your Family
Commit to learning as a family tradition. Real gratitude involves understanding the full truth of where we live.
- Read a book by an Indigenous author: Pick a book for your family to read together throughout the fall. Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse or Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian are powerful choices.
- Watch a film or documentary: The National Film Board of Canada has a rich library of Indigenous-made films.
- Learn a few words in a local Indigenous language: Most nations have online dictionaries or language resources. Learning to say “thank you” (miigwetch in Anishinaabemowin, for example) is a small but respectful gesture.
Gratitude in Action
Ultimately, reimagining Thanksgiving isn’t about taking away a cherished holiday. It’s about enriching it. It’s about expanding our understanding of gratitude to include respect, truth, and responsibility.
True thankfulness isn’t just a feeling we have one day a year. It’s an action. It’s how we live our lives, how we treat the land, and how we relate to one another every day. By weaving Indigenous perspectives into our celebrations, we’re not just creating a more honest holiday—we’re taking a small but crucial step toward building a better, more just future for everyone who calls this land home.
What is one new tradition you will try this Thanksgiving to honor the spirit of truth and reconciliation? Share your commitment in the comments below!
