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This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving
Ahead of the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving, a new look at the Plymouth colony's founding events, told for the first time with Wampanoag people at the heart of the story.
In March 1621, when Plymouth's survival was hanging in the balance, the Wampanoag sachem (or chief), Ousamequin (Massasoit), and Plymouth's governor, John Carver, declared their people's friendship for each other and a commitment to mutual defense. Later that autumn, the English gathered their first successful harvest and lifted the specter of starvation. Ousamequin and 90 of his men then visited Plymouth for the “First Thanksgiving.” The treaty remained operative until King Philip's War in 1675, when 50 years of uneasy peace between the two parties would come to an end.
400 years after that famous meal, historian David J. Silverman sheds profound new light on the events that led to the creation, and bloody dissolution, of this alliance. Focusing on the Wampanoag Indians, Silverman deepens the narrative to consider tensions that developed well before 1620 and lasted long after the devastating war-tracing the Wampanoags' ongoing struggle for self-determination up to this very day.
This unsettling history reveals why some modern Native people hold a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving, a holiday which celebrates a myth of colonialism and white proprietorship of the United States. This Land is Their Land shows that it is time to rethink how we, as a pluralistic nation, tell the history of Thanksgiving.
In March 1621, when Plymouth's survival was hanging in the balance, the Wampanoag sachem (or chief), Ousamequin (Massasoit), and Plymouth's governor, John Carver, declared their people's friendship for each other and a commitment to mutual defense. Later that autumn, the English gathered their first successful harvest and lifted the specter of starvation. Ousamequin and 90 of his men then visited Plymouth for the “First Thanksgiving.” The treaty remained operative until King Philip's War in 1675, when 50 years of uneasy peace between the two parties would come to an end.
400 years after that famous meal, historian David J. Silverman sheds profound new light on the events that led to the creation, and bloody dissolution, of this alliance. Focusing on the Wampanoag Indians, Silverman deepens the narrative to consider tensions that developed well before 1620 and lasted long after the devastating war-tracing the Wampanoags' ongoing struggle for self-determination up to this very day.
This unsettling history reveals why some modern Native people hold a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving, a holiday which celebrates a myth of colonialism and white proprietorship of the United States. This Land is Their Land shows that it is time to rethink how we, as a pluralistic nation, tell the history of Thanksgiving.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
November 21, 2021
Suffice to say, the story most of us have been taught about Thanksgiving and English settlement in the Plymouth Colony area is a bit on the sanitized and oversimplified side of things. Now while there is quite an abundance of literature out there that works to address the actual complexity of the matter, even these books still tend to address the history from a Pilgrim-centered point, as if they are still the primary players at the "start" of a fresh new nation. But the basic fact of the matter is that they were just a ragged bunch who anchored ship right in the middle of Wampanoag territory - one of several indigenous nations that had existed in the area for quite some time already in various shapes and forms. So since it was in their backyard that it all began, why can't the focus be grounded on the indigenous side for a change?
Thankfully, we now have precisely that much-needed shift of vantage point. Drawing upon everything that historical record can provide, David Silverman provides as rich a history of the Wampanoag tribe as one can possibly construct, stretching from pre-European contact through the beginnings of English settlement in the northeastern US, all the way up to the present day. This Land Is Their Land is a fantastic read for all those who want to give their historical perspective the long-overdue edit that has been necessary ever since whatever fateful day way back in school when we were presented with happy images of Pilgrims and feathered natives gathered around a cooked turkey.
Thankfully, we now have precisely that much-needed shift of vantage point. Drawing upon everything that historical record can provide, David Silverman provides as rich a history of the Wampanoag tribe as one can possibly construct, stretching from pre-European contact through the beginnings of English settlement in the northeastern US, all the way up to the present day. This Land Is Their Land is a fantastic read for all those who want to give their historical perspective the long-overdue edit that has been necessary ever since whatever fateful day way back in school when we were presented with happy images of Pilgrims and feathered natives gathered around a cooked turkey.
December 3, 2019
***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***
When we think of Thanksgiving we usually think of time spent with family and plates filled with traditional Thanksgiving food. We make allusions to the circumstances of the first Thanksgiving in decorations featuring friendly pilgrims and Indians and if one is in school or has children in school perhaps a Thanksgiving play. But rarely do we think about the true circumstances surrounding the first Thanksgiving and the fraught reality of the relations between the Pilgrim and the Native Americans. This Land is Their Land by Daniel J. Silverman does just that, shining a light on a part of history many of us know little about. In this book, Silverman reveals to the reader a brief history of native peoples to the Americas before focusing on the Wampanoags, the Native Americans the Pilgrims first encountered, and the surrounding native peoples. He describes the complex culture of these peoples before their encounter with Europeans and what occurred after contact leading up to the pilgrims, most of which ended violently. He then covers the interactions between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags and the reasons why the chief or sachem, Ousamequin, decided to establish relations with the Pilgrims. Silverman does an excellent job examining the relationship between the two groups and why they made the decisions they made which eventually ended in King Phillips War and almost destruction of the Native American culture in New England. However, Silverman highlights the strength of the Native Americans, their ability to adapt and resist erasure both physically and in history while encouraging the reader to take steps in their own lives to acknowledge the truth surrounding the first Thanksgiving. This is an excellent book that should be recommended reading for every American.
Rating: 5 stars. Would highly recommend to a friend.
When we think of Thanksgiving we usually think of time spent with family and plates filled with traditional Thanksgiving food. We make allusions to the circumstances of the first Thanksgiving in decorations featuring friendly pilgrims and Indians and if one is in school or has children in school perhaps a Thanksgiving play. But rarely do we think about the true circumstances surrounding the first Thanksgiving and the fraught reality of the relations between the Pilgrim and the Native Americans. This Land is Their Land by Daniel J. Silverman does just that, shining a light on a part of history many of us know little about. In this book, Silverman reveals to the reader a brief history of native peoples to the Americas before focusing on the Wampanoags, the Native Americans the Pilgrims first encountered, and the surrounding native peoples. He describes the complex culture of these peoples before their encounter with Europeans and what occurred after contact leading up to the pilgrims, most of which ended violently. He then covers the interactions between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags and the reasons why the chief or sachem, Ousamequin, decided to establish relations with the Pilgrims. Silverman does an excellent job examining the relationship between the two groups and why they made the decisions they made which eventually ended in King Phillips War and almost destruction of the Native American culture in New England. However, Silverman highlights the strength of the Native Americans, their ability to adapt and resist erasure both physically and in history while encouraging the reader to take steps in their own lives to acknowledge the truth surrounding the first Thanksgiving. This is an excellent book that should be recommended reading for every American.
Rating: 5 stars. Would highly recommend to a friend.
July 25, 2020
This is a really personal and in-depth narrative of the relationships between Europeans and the Narragansett and Wampanoag nations in what’s now Massachusetts. It makes it clear how informed the Wampanoag were about the Europeans and how cautious they were and the plans they made to handle them. The personal relationships, the way Christianity worked, the gradual population surge of Europeans and their land use—it’s all so carefully laid out. This story had all been summarized in a couple sentences for me before but now I have a sense of all the nuance. The first Thanksgiving was much more complex than we think about. The greatest takeaway I had was how sad it is for current members of the Wampanoag nation and even other Indian groups to only hear about themselves at Thanksgiving and then the story is told that they just disappeared and aren’t around anymore. But they are still here and they deserve to be included as a more full part of the story than just as victims that disappeared. I loved the stories of the women leaders and the many Indians who crossed to England and Spain and then came back. They were pretty well informed. Tragically so many of them were sold into slavery in the Caribbean and in later years were kept in bondage to Europeans in ways that were essentially slavery. But in the early years, many learned English and were familiar with English law and used the courts to their advantage and advocated for themselves. The equality in agency of all groups was impressive. As was the desire of the Wampanoag to retain their identity and land and rights.
November 15, 2019
Another timely read for both Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month, it is long past time to hear the "real" story behind the sanitized version children are often taught. Silverman shows that the stories you were likely taught if you were educated in the US are...not very true. From the founding of Plymouth to the now-known genocide of Native people, Silverman shows what is likely a much more accurate version of what happened.
It's an informative book but it also wasn't quite what I thought it would be. I thought it would be more focused on the concept of Thanksgiving itself, instead of a more in-depth history. Which is not wrong but I perhaps went into the book with a slightly different idea of what it is.
I also found it to be a tough read, not for the content (which in itself was interesting), but the author's writing style. He's a professor and...you can tell. I could very easily see this book as something that shows up in a syllabus for a class of the history of the US settlements and colonies, a class on Native history, etc. but it wasn't "light" reading at all.
Which is not to take away from the text but I'd recommend you take your time with the book to really learn from it but don't expect it to fly by , either. Library borrow was best for a non-school reader, I think.
It's an informative book but it also wasn't quite what I thought it would be. I thought it would be more focused on the concept of Thanksgiving itself, instead of a more in-depth history. Which is not wrong but I perhaps went into the book with a slightly different idea of what it is.
I also found it to be a tough read, not for the content (which in itself was interesting), but the author's writing style. He's a professor and...you can tell. I could very easily see this book as something that shows up in a syllabus for a class of the history of the US settlements and colonies, a class on Native history, etc. but it wasn't "light" reading at all.
Which is not to take away from the text but I'd recommend you take your time with the book to really learn from it but don't expect it to fly by , either. Library borrow was best for a non-school reader, I think.
November 4, 2021
An informative book about The Wampanoag Indians and the Thanksgiving myth. It opened up my eyes to some of the history we've been taught about Thanksgiving, and I'm glad I now have that view. While I learned a lot from this book, it was a really difficult read. It was more of a textbook than a nonfiction book in my opinion. The book also covered different topics than I was expecting. I enjoyed learning about The Wampanoags way of life (before being taken over by the colonists) and how the actual Thanksgiving went down but most of the book extended all the way to the late 1600s.
Either way, it's always a joy to have more knowledge about history.
Either way, it's always a joy to have more knowledge about history.
Read
August 23, 2019THIS LAND IS THEIR LAND by David J. Silverman provides an impeccably well researched account of the true events that transpired surrounding the holiday that the United States celebrates as "Thanksgiving.." The text is illuminated with pertinent illustrations that help to bring the history of of the Wampanoag to life. This extensive book examines the history of the indigenous peoples that inhabited the United States before the white settlers came to America. Silverman shows that the Wampanoag and other tribes possessed their own complex civilization before pilgrims set foot on Plymoth Rock. Silverman does not shy away from the stark realities regarding the interactions between Europeans and Native Americans. Using a vast amount of historical evidence, he brings to light the often times shameful ways that the United States has dealt with the Indians. This is an excellent book for those who are interested in learning about the hidden side of history.
April 14, 2022
I always knew about the Trail of Tears and an assorted number of rebellions and skirmishes that Native Americans were involved in but this book opened my eyes to the sinister undercurrent of treachery and outright racism that took place almost from the beginning when white colonists first set foot on Plymouth Rock and paved the way for the horrors of "Manifest Destiny."
Native Americans took a serious risk in allowing them to live on their land (and it absolutely was their land, not some barren stretch of swamp devoid of human presence) and even went as far as supporting them in their first few winters as they starved to death and were incapable of weathering the harsh environment on their own.
How did colonists repay that kindness? Bureaucratic treachery, devious land deeds, and a justice system all set in place to work against them at every turn. Goading them into confrontations that eventually led to war, the spoils of which were scooped up at a moment's notice while the loser's heads were put on pikes in full display of the defeated Native Americans.
It turns out white colonists were the "savages" all along, not the Native Americans and I thank Mr. Silverman for opening my eyes to this reality. I can only hope this reality plays a stronger role in current and future US History curricula so as to educate and dispel the myths of Thanksgiving subservience.
Native Americans took a serious risk in allowing them to live on their land (and it absolutely was their land, not some barren stretch of swamp devoid of human presence) and even went as far as supporting them in their first few winters as they starved to death and were incapable of weathering the harsh environment on their own.
How did colonists repay that kindness? Bureaucratic treachery, devious land deeds, and a justice system all set in place to work against them at every turn. Goading them into confrontations that eventually led to war, the spoils of which were scooped up at a moment's notice while the loser's heads were put on pikes in full display of the defeated Native Americans.
It turns out white colonists were the "savages" all along, not the Native Americans and I thank Mr. Silverman for opening my eyes to this reality. I can only hope this reality plays a stronger role in current and future US History curricula so as to educate and dispel the myths of Thanksgiving subservience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2020
Truly a spectacular work of history.
November 15, 2021
READ THIS BOOK.
February 19, 2021
An enlightening and important story of the true relationships between the Indians and colonists of Plymouth. The myth we learned in school is not what really transpired.
April 10, 2020
Once you start reading this book it is likely you will continue with it to the end—this is gripping documented history that will have you on the edge of your seat in some parts, and shaking your head in others at how stupid humans can be. The time period covered is from near pre-history to our own contemporary time. Prepare for a clear eyed view of New England history (Hint: It's not peace and love between whites and Native Americans at a first Thanksgiving). The English and the Indians each had their faults, both moral and cultural; the differences appear to be in power and willingness to use it, exacerbated by different concepts of private and communal—as it still is today.
David J. Silverman is open about his thorough approach to historical documentation, and the Native American and English sources consulted to produce the most accurate account possible with currently extant sources. This adds to the confidence the reader may have in the veracity of the content in this book. The effect of this factual presentation is lasting.
From the historical account in this book it appears to me that "King Philip’s War (Metacom’s Rebellion)" in 1675-1676 was the inflection point for the acceleration of Native Americans' downward spiral from being independent nations. After that it was not much of a stretch to see the future coming of the Trail of Tears perpetrated by Andrew Jackson against Native Americans in the South—for the same expansionist reasons.
Zoom out from the narrative and you may see in the Europeans remnants of the Roman Empire, with its impetus for military conquest and taking of slaves. After Constantine it was a common presumption that the Empire was one and the same as the Kingdom of Jesus. The Native Americans who were "Praying Indians" embraced Christianity without the perspective of being part of European oriented Christendom—they studied the Bible and applied the Gospels through other than a European lens.
One possible result of the 21st Century thoughts described in this book might be the reorientation of our Thanksgiving holiday. We may dispense with the silly Pilgrim/Indian motifs, and instead embrace a Thanksgiving for all humanity. Let's hope that is sooner than later.
David J. Silverman is open about his thorough approach to historical documentation, and the Native American and English sources consulted to produce the most accurate account possible with currently extant sources. This adds to the confidence the reader may have in the veracity of the content in this book. The effect of this factual presentation is lasting.
From the historical account in this book it appears to me that "King Philip’s War (Metacom’s Rebellion)" in 1675-1676 was the inflection point for the acceleration of Native Americans' downward spiral from being independent nations. After that it was not much of a stretch to see the future coming of the Trail of Tears perpetrated by Andrew Jackson against Native Americans in the South—for the same expansionist reasons.
Zoom out from the narrative and you may see in the Europeans remnants of the Roman Empire, with its impetus for military conquest and taking of slaves. After Constantine it was a common presumption that the Empire was one and the same as the Kingdom of Jesus. The Native Americans who were "Praying Indians" embraced Christianity without the perspective of being part of European oriented Christendom—they studied the Bible and applied the Gospels through other than a European lens.
One possible result of the 21st Century thoughts described in this book might be the reorientation of our Thanksgiving holiday. We may dispense with the silly Pilgrim/Indian motifs, and instead embrace a Thanksgiving for all humanity. Let's hope that is sooner than later.
December 13, 2019
a really crucial paradigm shifter - so emphatically appreciate the overall thesis of the book. Definitely a very deep deep textbook-like dive into the nitty gritty, though, which I found I lacked patience (or time) for. Some nice summary quotes:
"The Thanksgiving myth promotes the idea that this event involved Indians gifting their country bloodlessly to Europeans and their descendants to launch the United States as a great Christian, democratic, family-centered nation blessed by God. Yet nothing of the sort took place in the fall of 1621. The Wampanoags' alliance with Plymouth was not about conceding to colonialism. Their hope was that the English would provide them with military backing, martial supplies, and trade goods that would enable them to fend off the Narragansetts while they tried to recover from their losses to the epidemic of 1616-19. Once they returned to strength, they certainly expected to continue exercising dominion in their country over anyone living there, the English included."
"If the Wampanoags are as much our fellow Americans as the descendants of the Pilgrims, and if their history can be as instructional and inspirational as that of the English, then why continue to tell a Thanksgiving myth that focuses exclusively on the colonialists' struggle rather than theirs?"
"Dispense with the Thanksgiving myth, and focus more on the sentiment of being grateful." Amen.
"The Thanksgiving myth promotes the idea that this event involved Indians gifting their country bloodlessly to Europeans and their descendants to launch the United States as a great Christian, democratic, family-centered nation blessed by God. Yet nothing of the sort took place in the fall of 1621. The Wampanoags' alliance with Plymouth was not about conceding to colonialism. Their hope was that the English would provide them with military backing, martial supplies, and trade goods that would enable them to fend off the Narragansetts while they tried to recover from their losses to the epidemic of 1616-19. Once they returned to strength, they certainly expected to continue exercising dominion in their country over anyone living there, the English included."
"If the Wampanoags are as much our fellow Americans as the descendants of the Pilgrims, and if their history can be as instructional and inspirational as that of the English, then why continue to tell a Thanksgiving myth that focuses exclusively on the colonialists' struggle rather than theirs?"
"Dispense with the Thanksgiving myth, and focus more on the sentiment of being grateful." Amen.
December 21, 2021
Great read for a timeline of New England Native Americans, especially the Wampanoags, and their interactions with colonists (though the events in the book actually start at first recorded history of Natives in the area). I realized that I'm most interested in Native culture and spiritual beliefs, which is not a focus of this book. As such, I learned a lot but it was a dense, textbook-like read focusing mainly on political moves between the colonists and Wampanoags. Still well worth it for the information conveyed.
August 18, 2019
Wow. I'm not sure I will ever look at Thanksgiving, and especially the traditional images of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, the same way ever again. There is a lot of information to digest in this book. Very eye-opening.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2021
The raves are well merited, but let me flesh out a bit more with my experience reading the book itself. Silverman is a VERY clever writer indeed, and throughout the narrative kept an easy and accessible pace. Never overburdened, yet never flitting, the author managed to juggle the complex intertwining of characters, places and events in a way that was so easy to follow I was often pausing and impressed with the presentation itself!
Now, fair disclaimer; I am from exact and specific regions discussed in the story, so I bring to the book a clear picture of geographic detail. This could have made my read easier, but I think not; I do believe it is accessible to anyone from anywhere, without depth of knowledge about New England. granted, one might want to always keep a map or two handy while reading, but let's be honest: tat is ALWAYS a good idea when reading history, and not a failure of the text, which peppers a few map illustrations throughout.
I have not talked about the themes and topics at length because, in just about EVERY review I have seen, so many of the accolades and delight I would have given the book are already emphatically stated. He just does such a phenomenal job. The complexity of the stories and the way they interweave characters and incidents is high intrigue unto itself – it makes the plot lines of white fictional commodities like Game Of Thrones seem simplistic! That is NOT an exaggeration – this is jaw-dropping story drama, and none of it is fabricated; the facts are so unbelievably complex and densely woven as to need a breath from time to time just to wrap your brain around it. And yet, Silverman keeps you grounded and clear on all parties and places; for such intense complexity, you will not get lost.
There is something additional I consider, however. I am a white man from Massachusetts. Throughout, I was wondering if the impacts of the story was somehow due to some coded means of communicating that I know yet can't consciously describe. I am not sounding mystical, but just comparing to how easily digested this book was for me. I have read a few histories of American Indians, but usually written by Indigenous authors themselves. This Ione felt just a little different, and it was to my benefit, as I was often emotionally connecting. I kept puzzling if it was just flatly that Silverman is a good writer of history, or if there was baked into it some code of white pacing that I pick up on even if I can't directly point to. Either way, the point of the comment was that it digests VERY well. Not always comfortably – nor should it. But as I mentioned I was emotionally connecting w with story beats throughout, in a way that resonated within me and helped me integrate historical ideas I may have had familiarity with, but hadn't yet emotionally felt impact from (and hadn't even realized I hadn't!).
The only flaw (and it is SO minor that I will not downgrade my review) is how he briskly travels the last 150 years or so. Now, I know that would literally double the size of the book, and here we are focusing on the origins of the American Thanksgiving myth, and the story of the continent during the Wampanoag, but nonetheless you feel the speed-up in the last 40 or so pages. Now, as I mentioned it is minor, and not really a true flaw. I figured I would mention it because I would have loved to have known about the speed-up so I could anticipate it.
I would be lying to say I didn't want to read this again. That is a RARE response from me; I am a classic "one-and-done" reader, especially with non-fiction. But this gem of a history is nothing short of being one of the most important texts I've read in my 50 years on this rock. I am at once grateful and energized to continue seeking change.
Thank you Mr. Silverman. Thank you so much.
Now, fair disclaimer; I am from exact and specific regions discussed in the story, so I bring to the book a clear picture of geographic detail. This could have made my read easier, but I think not; I do believe it is accessible to anyone from anywhere, without depth of knowledge about New England. granted, one might want to always keep a map or two handy while reading, but let's be honest: tat is ALWAYS a good idea when reading history, and not a failure of the text, which peppers a few map illustrations throughout.
I have not talked about the themes and topics at length because, in just about EVERY review I have seen, so many of the accolades and delight I would have given the book are already emphatically stated. He just does such a phenomenal job. The complexity of the stories and the way they interweave characters and incidents is high intrigue unto itself – it makes the plot lines of white fictional commodities like Game Of Thrones seem simplistic! That is NOT an exaggeration – this is jaw-dropping story drama, and none of it is fabricated; the facts are so unbelievably complex and densely woven as to need a breath from time to time just to wrap your brain around it. And yet, Silverman keeps you grounded and clear on all parties and places; for such intense complexity, you will not get lost.
There is something additional I consider, however. I am a white man from Massachusetts. Throughout, I was wondering if the impacts of the story was somehow due to some coded means of communicating that I know yet can't consciously describe. I am not sounding mystical, but just comparing to how easily digested this book was for me. I have read a few histories of American Indians, but usually written by Indigenous authors themselves. This Ione felt just a little different, and it was to my benefit, as I was often emotionally connecting. I kept puzzling if it was just flatly that Silverman is a good writer of history, or if there was baked into it some code of white pacing that I pick up on even if I can't directly point to. Either way, the point of the comment was that it digests VERY well. Not always comfortably – nor should it. But as I mentioned I was emotionally connecting w with story beats throughout, in a way that resonated within me and helped me integrate historical ideas I may have had familiarity with, but hadn't yet emotionally felt impact from (and hadn't even realized I hadn't!).
The only flaw (and it is SO minor that I will not downgrade my review) is how he briskly travels the last 150 years or so. Now, I know that would literally double the size of the book, and here we are focusing on the origins of the American Thanksgiving myth, and the story of the continent during the Wampanoag, but nonetheless you feel the speed-up in the last 40 or so pages. Now, as I mentioned it is minor, and not really a true flaw. I figured I would mention it because I would have loved to have known about the speed-up so I could anticipate it.
I would be lying to say I didn't want to read this again. That is a RARE response from me; I am a classic "one-and-done" reader, especially with non-fiction. But this gem of a history is nothing short of being one of the most important texts I've read in my 50 years on this rock. I am at once grateful and energized to continue seeking change.
Thank you Mr. Silverman. Thank you so much.
January 1, 2022
Filled with myth busting facts, DS describes a more realistic initial Thanksgiving rife with power conflicts, survival politics and human greed. Sadly, this book impressed me with the horrific degradation of native people by invading Europeans. This nation began with racial and ideological conflict and it is still rife today.
Too sad: the whole story became too demoralizing to me and I opted to not finish the book. Maybe a bit of ostrich in me, but this history became too depressing for me.
Too sad: the whole story became too demoralizing to me and I opted to not finish the book. Maybe a bit of ostrich in me, but this history became too depressing for me.
January 19, 2022
I listened to the audiobook. I think the subject material was great, super informative but I just could not get into this book. The 2 stars is purely on me- I couldn’t focus on the material. It is a dense book on an interesting time in history. If you enjoy that type of book then definitely pick this up.
November 24, 2020
The stories we perpetuate are often shadows of the truth. This in-depth, thoroughly researched book gives context and insight into the real story of colonization, treatment of the Native people, and Thanksgiving.
November 28, 2020
Though a bit tedious and, at times, repetitive, this book is thoroughly enlightening and the subject important.
November 28, 2021
Required reading.
January 13, 2022
There are many good and thorough reviews here to tell you why this book should be a must read for all. It not only busts the Thanksgiving myth but also shows how the Northeast was just as culpable in the destruction and genocide of Native Americans as Andrew Jackson, Custer et al. I felt heartened by Silverman's closing comments about current Wampanoag efforts to bring back their language and culture. Talk about resilience and persistence. It's a big book and takes some effort to read - but stay with it.
December 12, 2021
I thought I had a pretty decent grasp of the problems with the Thanksgiving myth, but this deep dive into Wampanoag culture--before, during, and after Plymouth--made me realize how little I actually knew. Silverman distills massive amounts of research into an incredibly readable narrative. Highly recommended!
December 14, 2021
This book took a long time to read! Typically I can wiz through them, but I had to slow down, re-read and think about what I was reading. It tilted academic and as a result, may not be accessible to all. However, it felt very well researched and I really appreciate the journey it took me on. I learned so much and I highly recommend the book to those looking to understand our past and what really happened between the Wampanoag Indians and Colonists.
April 27, 2022
Though it’s been many years since I believed the halcyon myth of the first Thanksgiving, I’ve struggled to internalize the realities of old, interrelated, and evolving civilizations disrupted by English colonizers. This book delivered what I’d hoped for:
First, a better sense of Wampanoag society—their trade and tributary networks, their diplomacy and jurisprudence, their cultural norms, etc.. Second, an understanding of why and how the their paramount sachem aided the Plymouth colony. Given that the Wampanoag were wary (they’d already experienced the perfidy of European visitors), and given that the new foreigners’ first act on land was to desecrate graves and rob food caches, it was particularly helpful to be taken through the rapprochement from the sachem’s point of view.
My major concern is the book's heavy reliance on colonizers’ writings. The author, who is not Indigenous, comes from a discipline that vastly prefers written records to those preserved by oral traditions. It’s clear that he’s made some effort to address the imbalance, and I have no useful suggestions for how to do better. Yet I often found myself wondering why he decided to trust a particular English source, especially when it was the sole record drawn upon for an event. I also found some of the language too distancing. E.g., references to ���acquired Indians” (hostages taken by force?) or land “sales” when the local understanding of land rights was more about opening them to expanded community use.
In short: an imperfect effort but possibly the best available when it comes to correcting the American view of Plymouth colony's establishment and returning the focus to the thriving nations that were already here.
First, a better sense of Wampanoag society—their trade and tributary networks, their diplomacy and jurisprudence, their cultural norms, etc.. Second, an understanding of why and how the their paramount sachem aided the Plymouth colony. Given that the Wampanoag were wary (they’d already experienced the perfidy of European visitors), and given that the new foreigners’ first act on land was to desecrate graves and rob food caches, it was particularly helpful to be taken through the rapprochement from the sachem’s point of view.
My major concern is the book's heavy reliance on colonizers’ writings. The author, who is not Indigenous, comes from a discipline that vastly prefers written records to those preserved by oral traditions. It’s clear that he’s made some effort to address the imbalance, and I have no useful suggestions for how to do better. Yet I often found myself wondering why he decided to trust a particular English source, especially when it was the sole record drawn upon for an event. I also found some of the language too distancing. E.g., references to ���acquired Indians” (hostages taken by force?) or land “sales” when the local understanding of land rights was more about opening them to expanded community use.
In short: an imperfect effort but possibly the best available when it comes to correcting the American view of Plymouth colony's establishment and returning the focus to the thriving nations that were already here.
December 19, 2020
TW: Use of the N word in chapter nine, in reference to how Indigenous and African biracial descendants were referred to by colonists. Also, occasional use of the word *Indian* in reference to Indigenous peoples -- the author does clarify reasoning for use. Another thing to note is that this book does discuss smallpox and other disease epidemics, wars and battles and the genocide of the Indigenous peoples of the United States during the colonial period as well as some instances of racism and prejudice that these peoples experience today (including an incidence of police brutality) if this is something that could be triggering to you I would not recommend reading this book.
However I personally found this book very educational and a good jumping off point for continuing to learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples here in the U.S. and issues they still face today, and how to better understand them with the intent to be an ally to Indigenous communities and people.
However I personally found this book very educational and a good jumping off point for continuing to learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples here in the U.S. and issues they still face today, and how to better understand them with the intent to be an ally to Indigenous communities and people.
December 1, 2020
**I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Simply, this is a necessary read. Though academic in tone, Silverman constructs a very detailed history of the indigenous peoples of New England and their constant struggle with the arrival of European settlers starting in the 1600s. I found the layer of details so fascinating, most of which has never been discussed or taught in history classes in the United States. It's a heartbreaking and maddening history of the Wampanoag Indians; Silverman does provide a look at the Wampanoags in contemporary times as well. Over 400 pages, with 100 pages of endnotes (a historian's dream!), this is a must read for anyone who wishes to know the true story of Thanksgiving and how relations between the indigenous peoples and the European settlers truly evolved over time.
Simply, this is a necessary read. Though academic in tone, Silverman constructs a very detailed history of the indigenous peoples of New England and their constant struggle with the arrival of European settlers starting in the 1600s. I found the layer of details so fascinating, most of which has never been discussed or taught in history classes in the United States. It's a heartbreaking and maddening history of the Wampanoag Indians; Silverman does provide a look at the Wampanoags in contemporary times as well. Over 400 pages, with 100 pages of endnotes (a historian's dream!), this is a must read for anyone who wishes to know the true story of Thanksgiving and how relations between the indigenous peoples and the European settlers truly evolved over time.
October 23, 2021
Rich in detail, This Land is Their Land is one of the finest books on Native American history I’ve ever read.
This is more than an unpacking of the myths surrounding the origins of Thanksgiving. Silverman’s sympathetic and informative account of Wampanoag history analyzes the events that led to the conflict the English colonists dubbed King Philip’s War. He examines the increasing pressures the Wampanoag people faced, delves into intertribal and intratribal dynamics, and exposes English betrayal of their erstwhile allies.
This is solid, in-depth history, written not only to illuminate the past but with an eye on a more just future committed to truth-telling - a future that includes a strong, resilient Wampanoag nation.
This is more than an unpacking of the myths surrounding the origins of Thanksgiving. Silverman’s sympathetic and informative account of Wampanoag history analyzes the events that led to the conflict the English colonists dubbed King Philip’s War. He examines the increasing pressures the Wampanoag people faced, delves into intertribal and intratribal dynamics, and exposes English betrayal of their erstwhile allies.
This is solid, in-depth history, written not only to illuminate the past but with an eye on a more just future committed to truth-telling - a future that includes a strong, resilient Wampanoag nation.
October 27, 2020
I initially read this book because it was about the Thanksgiving holiday, but it actually has very little about said holiday in it... which is entirely the point.
I was already aware of the Thanksgiving myth and the overall issues surrounding it, but apparently very few of the historical details. While occasionally getting bogged down in names, and sometimes confusingly jumping from one time period to another, the book provided me with much needed context to better understand why Thanksgiving is problematic.
Even to one who stopped believing in the Thanksgiving myth long ago, the book was still both eye-opening and heartbreaking.
I was already aware of the Thanksgiving myth and the overall issues surrounding it, but apparently very few of the historical details. While occasionally getting bogged down in names, and sometimes confusingly jumping from one time period to another, the book provided me with much needed context to better understand why Thanksgiving is problematic.
Even to one who stopped believing in the Thanksgiving myth long ago, the book was still both eye-opening and heartbreaking.
July 7, 2020
This book was wonderful and obviously painstakingly researched. I see a lot of reviews saying that it was hard to read because it read like a textbook; however, that was not my experience at all. I learned so much while remaining captivated the whole time. I especially love how the author puts everything into context and prompts points of reflection for the reader. The suggestions of how we can improve the perception around indigenous people were especially helpful and intriguing to read.
August 29, 2020
Excellent, slightly over detailed version of the Native American demise in the Northeast. Sad, demoralizing tale...
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