Notes

Though we’re often taught from a young age that Thanksgiving is a holiday meant to commemorate a historic feast that brought together Native Americans and Pilgrims, I find that most schools aren’t as thorough in covering the current state of Native American communities or discussing how our nation’s actions towards Native Americans in the past still carry into the present. And so, as much as I look forward to Thanksgiving break, I want to emphasize that in a time where Americans are inclined to give thanks for what they have, it’s important as well to remember what the indigenous communities of America have lost thus far and consider what can be done to stand in solidarity with them today.
In present day, at least 567 Native American tribes that occupy 326 reservations have been officially acknowledged by the U.S government. In terms of recognition, however, Native Americans were not allowed citizenship until 1924 with the Indian Citizenship Act. Only in 1965 were Native Americans given voting rights with the Voting Rights Act. A few years after that, in 1968, the rights of Native Americans to free speech, jury, and protection from search and seizure were defined in the Indian Civil Rights Act.
What this all means is that only recently have Native Americans been legally recognized as having the same human rights that Americans have had since the creation of our country. Historically, then, the U.S government has not been held completely accountable for its dehumanizing and oppressive treatment of the American indigenous peoples.
Some history classes examine how the United States has systematically persecuted Native people as seen in the Trail of Tears where thousands of Cherokee people was forced to give up their homes and undertake a grueling migration to Oklahoma or the boarding school movement where Native children were forcibly wrenched from their families and raised in white schools in an attempt to eliminate Native culture.
But we don’t often learn about how the American government, which most certainly should’ve been held accountable for the neglect and abuse it has inflicted on present-day Native communities, has not paid its dues. For instance, many medical clinics in reservations are underfunded and cannot provide proper physical and mental healthcare. Educational and nutritional resources for Native Americans are also lacking. Additionally, not only has the United States failed to make proper reparations, but American authorities still continue to infringe on Native American rights in present day. Particularly, in recent times, efforts to build the Dakota Access Pipeline continue with DAPL protestors who are fighting to protect the sacred land and water of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe experiencing police brutality, attacked with tear gas and concussion grenades.

So, in light of all this information, what can we do to support Native communities on a day like today and afterwards as well?
In terms of the #NODAPL movement, here are links to support the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s water protectors--

Sign the petition calling for the project to build the Dakota Access Pipeline to stop: https://www.change.org/p/jo-ellen-darcy-stop-the-dakota-access-pipeline
Call the banks who are funding the Dakota Access Pipeline here: http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/how-to-contact-the-17-banks-funding-the-dakota-access-pipeline-20160929
Donate here: https://www.holisticlivingschool.org/standing-rock-medic-healer-council/
Find more resources here: http://mirandatam.tumblr.com/post/153608918527/critical-need-help-the-water-protectors-at

In general, here is a list of resources to support Native peoples: http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/history/uua/nativeamerican/117131.shtml
Here is a list of organizations dedicated to serving Native communities: http://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/top-native-american-organizations-to-know
Stay informed by subscribing to Native news networks as well: http://nativenews.tumblr.com/