A Modern, Compassionate Approach
By Rev. Samantha Corfield
Thanksgiving has long been a holiday built around warmth, togetherness, and gratitude. Families gather, meals are shared, and blessings are spoken aloud. Yet beneath the coziness of tradition lies a complex history that many of us were not taught accurately. In recent years, the popular story of friendly cooperation between settlers and Indigenous peoples, has lost it luster among the stories of the truth. Previous Thanksgiving history glosses over painful truths and generations of suffering. As my own awareness grew, so did a desire to honor Thanksgiving in a way that still celebrates gratitude while also respecting Indigenous history and presence.
The good news is that this doesn’t require giving up the holiday or dampening its spirit. In fact, quite the opposite. Thanksgiving can evolve with us as we enrich the story with the truth and the holding dear of the thing that binds us all together.—tradition. The holiday can become more honest, more compassionate, and more meaningful while embracing the joy we hold dear.
At its heart, gratitude does not belong to any one group or moment in time. It is a spiritual practice that spans cultures and is especially central within Indigenous traditions. Many Native teachings emphasize gratitude not only for blessings already received, but for those yet to come. As one well-known Lakota proverb says, “Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.” Another Native proverb reminds us, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” When seen through this lens, moving Thanksgiving away from a mythologized historical narrative and toward a celebration of gratitude feels like a return to something universally of the earth rather than a loss.
It’s important to say clearly that I do not speak for Indigenous peoples, nor do I claim their stories or traditions as my own. Their histories belong to them, and their voices are the ones that should guide understanding. What I can do, and what any non-Indigenous person can do, is choose to listen, to learn, and to honor their presence in genuine ways.
Living in New Mexico, near the Isleta Indian Reservation, I have been fortunate to know Native friends and neighbors who have shared parts of their lives and perspectives with me. Many express that recognition and acknowledgment of history, of identity, of continued existence, hold deep meaning. In a larger national context, where non-Native people writing about Native communities can be a sensitive issue, I believe honesty about one’s position is essential. If you know Indigenous people personally, ask what acknowledgment feels right to them. If you don’t, consider seeking out Indigenous authors, artists, educators, and community organizations, and let their voices lead the way.
It’s also important to remember that Indigenous peoples are not a single group with one shared story. Every tribal nation has its own culture, history, language, and traditions. If you feel called to deepen your understanding, you might explore the history of the tribal nations who originally lived on the land where you now make your home. Each community has a unique story worth honoring.
With that grounding, it becomes easier to see how Thanksgiving can be both joyful and respectful. It doesn’t have to be somber or heavy. A gentle acknowledgment spoken before the meal—something as simple as “We give thanks for the blessings in our lives, and we honor the Indigenous peoples who were the first stewards of this land”—can bring truth into the day without changing the warmth of the day. This kind of acknowledgment is not political; it is human. It widens the circle rather than dividing it.
Another meaningful way to honor Indigenous presence is through the food on the table itself. Many of the ingredients we think of as traditional to Thanksgiving—corn, beans, squash, chile, potatoes, and sunflowers, were cultivated by Indigenous peoples thousands of years before any settlers arrived.
One of the most beloved Indigenous agricultural systems is known as the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash grown together in a mutually supportive partnership. Corn provides a natural pole, beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, and squash spreads low across the ground to keep moisture in and weeds out. More than a farming technique, the Three Sisters embody harmony, cooperation, and reciprocity with the land. Including even a simple dish inspired by these ingredients—a roasted squash side, a bean-and-corn salad, or a Three Sisters-style medley—can serve as a quiet, heartfelt way to acknowledge the people who nourished this land long before our modern traditions existed. This is not about recreating sacred recipes or claiming cultural practices; it is a gesture of gratitude offered through nourishment and intention.
Indigenous cultures today are not relics of the past. They are vibrant, innovative, and deeply rooted. The Métis statesman Louis Riel once said, “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” Sharing quotes, stories, or facts from Indigenous voices at the table can transform Thanksgiving into a moment of learning and appreciation.
Children, too, can be included in gentle, age-appropriate ways. Young children easily understand the idea that Native families lived here first and cared for the land, without needing frightening detail. As they grow older, they can be introduced to the idea that the story many of us were taught about Thanksgiving wasn’t the whole truth—and that learning the real history is a way to honor fairness and compassion. None of this diminishes the holiday for them. In fact, it enriches it by teaching empathy and integrity.
Even small rituals can bring these values into the celebration. Lighting a candle and expressing gratitude, placing a stone or leaf on the table in recognition of the land’s original caretakers, and sharing intentions for kindness or stewardship in the coming year can transform Thanksgiving from a fixed story into a living, evolving practice. It becomes a holiday of connection—connection to family, to truth, to history, and to the land itself.
Acknowledging the full story of Thanksgiving does not take away its meaning. Instead, as the truth often does, it deepens it. A holiday rooted in gratitude alone is beautiful. A holiday rooted in gratitude and truth becomes something transcendent. It becomes a moment of healing. It becomes a bridge between past and present. It becomes a celebration we can feel proud to pass on to the next generation.
In the end, we can say with open hearts:
We are grateful for all we have.
We are mindful of the truth.
And we honor every person whose story is part of this land.
Thanksgiving can be everything it has always been—family, food, love—while also becoming something wiser and more compassionate. And that, truly, is worth celebrating.
A Simple Three Sisters–Inspired Gratitude Side Dish
Corn • Beans • Squash — a bowl of harmony
To close your celebration with a gesture of respect, here is a warm, nourishing side dish inspired by the Three Sisters. This recipe isn’t a traditional Indigenous preparation, but rather a gentle way to honor the agricultural wisdom behind corn, beans, and squash and the spirit of reciprocity they represent.
Three Sisters Gratitude Medley
Ingredients:
- 2 cups diced butternut or winter squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup cooked black beans or pinto beans
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: a pinch of smoked paprika or mild chile powder
- Optional: chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish
Instructions:
- Roast the squash:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Toss the diced squash with olive oil, salt, pepper, and optional smoked paprika. Roast for 20–25 minutes until tender.
- Sauté the aromatics:
In a skillet, cook the diced onion until softened. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
- Combine the Sisters:
Stir in the corn and beans, warming them gently. Add the roasted squash.
- Add sweetness and brightness:
Mix in the maple syrup and vinegar or lime juice. Adjust seasoning.
- Serve with gratitude:
Garnish with herbs and take a moment to honor the tradition behind the ingredients.
