Truthsgiving: Using Food to Dismantle a Colonial Myth

Event Details

November is Native American Heritage Month as well as the month many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. The Eiteljorg and its partners invite you to explore ways of honoring Indigenous Peoples during your holiday celebrations. The Native American community is widely diverse and still alive today. However, systemic issues such as the myth surrounding the origins of Thanksgiving continue to generalize and suppress the Native community. This event is not about cancelling a holiday; it is about changing perspectives on how to celebrate the holiday and Indigenous Peoples.

Enjoy a conversation about the mythology of the “first Thanksgiving” and a cooking demonstration led by a Navajo food journalist to learn more about food sovereignty. All attendees will be able to enter a drawing for a chance to win a meal kit with Indigenous foods and recipes, so be sure to RSVP!

About the Speakers:

Andi Murphy is the creator, host and producer of the “Toasted Sister Podcast,” a show about Indigenous food. Andi grew up on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. She has a journalism degree from New Mexico State University and has been working as a journalist since 2011.

Jonathan James-Perry is an Aquinnah Wampanoag culture bearer, leader, historian, artist and professional speaker. He is grounded in the traditions of his ocean-going ancestors and works diligently to enforce and uphold the sovereignty of his tribal nation as well as to maintain cultural continuance among his tribal citizens.

RSVP at the link above.

For more information, contact the Eiteljorg Museum at museumprograms@eiteljorg.com or 317.636.9378.

This program was created through a partnership between the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Purdue Native American Educational Cultural Center and the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission. It received support from an Indiana Humanities Action Grant.