Educational Institutions Reconsider Thanksgiving Through Diversity and Indigenous Perspectives

As families across the United States gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, a growing number of educational institutions are reexamining the holiday’s historical narrative, challenging traditional perspectives and incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) frameworks into their approach to the national holiday.

The University of California, Davis recently hosted a virtual event titled “Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom” through its California History-Social Science Project. The session aimed to help educators reframe classroom practices around Thanksgiving by “centering perspectives from Turtle Island,” a name for North America used by some indigenous peoples. Organizers explained the event would help “decolonize Thanksgiving and spark new conversations about how to authentically make meaning of this holiday with our students.”

Similarly, Washington University in St. Louis, an institution previously criticized for its DEI policies, promoted an event highlighting diverse cultural understandings of Thanksgiving. The university described the initiative as a way to “actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.”

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, students were invited to the “4th annual Thanksgiving Myth-busting” event, which includes examining “narratives justifying land grabs via colonialism” and, surprisingly, a viewing of the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The event also organized transportation for students to attend the National Indigenous Day of Mourning rally in Plymouth, Massachusetts—the historic landing site of the Mayflower.

When contacted, an MIT spokesperson emphasized that while the school officially closes Thursday and Friday to observe Thanksgiving, “individuals are free at MIT to express their views, they are free to observe holidays as they wish… and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer if that’s what they freely choose to do.” The spokesperson clarified that such expressions “are their own and do not reflect those of MIT or the wider community on campus.”

The University of Massachusetts has taken a more formal stance, referring to Thanksgiving on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility website as the “National Day of Mourning.” The university explains this annual demonstration “aims to educate the public about Native Americans in the United States, notably the Wampanoag and other tribes of the Eastern United States; dispel myths surrounding the Thanksgiving story in the United States; and raise awareness toward historical and ongoing struggles facing Native American tribes.”

Public school systems have also joined the conversation. Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico distributed a November Indigenous Education update explaining that “many native people do not celebrate” Thanksgiving as it represents a “reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the appropriation of Native lands, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.” The district described Thanksgiving as a time of “mourning” for some communities.

On the West Coast, the Berkeley Unified School District in California published a “Rethinking Thanksgiving Teaching Guide” that similarly used the term “mourning” while encouraging the community to consider the “painful legacy” and “nuanced perspectives” of the holiday.

These alternative perspectives have drawn criticism from educational advocacy groups. Paul Runko, senior director of Strategic Initiatives at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital, “Thanksgiving is meant to bring people together, not to divide students or cast blame over heritage. It is an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to celebrate America, build unity in their communities, and share a meal with family and friends.”

Runko referenced historical context, noting, “236 years ago, President George Washington urged Americans to set aside a day to give thanks for the blessings and abundance of our nation. Presidents throughout our history have continued that tradition, reminding us each Thanksgiving to pause and reflect with gratitude.”

These contrasting approaches highlight the ongoing national conversation about how American historical narratives are taught and commemorated in educational settings, particularly around traditional holidays with complex colonial histories.