First Thanksgiving (1621)

My name is Squanto, and my people, the Wampanoag, have lived in this land for a very long time. One day in 1620, a giant wooden boat called the Mayflower arrived on our shores. Out came people with funny hats and big buckles on their shoes. We called them the Pilgrims. They looked tired and were not ready for the cold winter that was coming. I watched them as they built their small houses. That first winter was very, very hard for them. The snow was deep, the wind was cold, and they did not have enough food to eat. Many of them were sad and sick. When spring arrived, I saw that they needed a friend to help them. I knew the land, the animals, and the secrets of growing food here. I decided it was time to say hello and show them kindness. I walked into their village and wanted to show them that we could live together as good neighbors and help one another.

I started by showing them how to plant corn. I said, “I have a special trick to make the corn grow tall and strong.” They watched as I dug a small hole and put a few corn seeds inside. Then, I added a small fish with the seeds. They looked very surprised. “The fish will give the earth food, and the earth will give the corn food,” I explained. It was like magic to them. We also went on adventures in the woods. I showed them which berries were sweet and juicy and safe to eat. I taught them how to find the maple trees and tap them to get the sweet, sticky syrup that dripped out. It was like candy from a tree. We went to the rivers and I showed them the best spots to catch fish that wiggled on the end of their lines. I taught them how to be quiet and track deer in the forest. Soon, their homes were filled with food, and they were not hungry anymore. They were learning how to live in their new home, and we were becoming good friends.

The sun grew warm, the corn grew tall, and by the autumn of 1621, my new friends had more food than they could imagine. Their leader, a kind man named William Bradford, decided they should have a big celebration to give thanks for everything. He invited me, my chief Massasoit, and about ninety of my Wampanoag friends to join them. For three whole days, we celebrated together. There were about fifty Pilgrims there, and our voices and laughter filled the air. The tables were piled high with delicious food. We ate roasted turkey, deer, sweet squash, and cornbread made from the corn we had planted with our fish secret. After eating, we played games and showed each other our dances. It was a happy time. We were different people, but we had learned to share and help each other. That feast showed us all that being friends and working together is the best way to live.