Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving?

Have you ever wondered why Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? Join us as we explore the origins and traditions of this important holiday in the US, while uncovering some dark truths about its origins for native American people. We learn about the similarities between how some Americans view Columbus Day and Thanksgiving as dark chapters in America's history. We also discuss the similarities and challenges for Australians celebrating our equivalent 'Columbus Day' - Australia Day - and the movement to #changethedate out of respect for Indigenous Australians. 

Thank you to our very special guests from Wichita, Dr Gretchen Eick from Friends University and poet Michael Poage for joining us on Greenland to talk about Thanksgiving. Both are prolific authors so if you're interested in delving more deeply into their works, see below for some links. And in the meantime, happy Thanksgiving in the spirit of the day! 

Stuff we mentioned that you might want to read more about: 

Dr Gretchen Eike  is a professor in African American History, 20th century and the US since 1945. She has written many books, including the award-winning, Dissent in Wichita, The Civil Rights Movement in the Midwest, 1954-72. Dr Eike is a Fulbright Scholar. 

For the past eight years, Dr Eike has been researching Indian policy and the lives of a Dakota physician and his Anglo wife who wrote extensively and challenged US colonization of Native Americans. She is currently working on a book about Charles Eastman and Elaine Goodale, which will be published by Nevada University Press (and we'll link here once it is!). 

Michael Poage is a prolific poet. You can check out his work here. 

Donald Betts founded the North American Australian Lawyers Alliance (NAALA) which hosted its inaugural Thanksgiving Dinner in Melbourne, Australia at Le Bon Ton.