Reflections on the Harvest Season
The harvest season is celebrated by many cultures, in many ways. It is generally a time to gather with family, friends and community. A time to be thankful for the gifts that the earth has given, and a time to be grateful for the warmth and support of those around us.
As I prepare, I’m getting my recipes ready. Eager to put together a pumpkin pie recipe for you I found myself unable to sit down and write one, to tell you how good pumpkin is for you.
I first need to acknowledge where the food that we eat, and the tradition of honoring the harvest on Thanksgiving Day, comes from. I am hopeful you will join me in thinking about this, too, as you give thanks in this harvest season.
The indigenous peoples that lived on the land long before white people ever showed up, were eating pumpkin and wild turkeys, gathering wild mushrooms and berries. These very familiar foods to us today, are actually ancient indigenous foods.
I personally would like to give thanks and express gratitude to the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribal nations that shared their knowledge of this land and its bounty with the early immigrants who made their way west.
To this day, it is my personal belief that we all owe a debt to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Without their generosity and guidance, we would not be here.
When we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinner, let’s acknowledge those from the past as well as think about those in the present.
You might ask those at your table: How are we as a community doing? How can we support all of our community members? What can we do to share wealth, to share knowledge, to share kindness and show generosity? How can we truly show gratitude?
I do not have the answers to all these questions, but I am working at it. I have been widening my understanding of indigenous foods; looking up the history that I was never taught in school; understanding what food sovereignty really means. Working at understanding how food can help heal and strengthen our indigenous communities. I’ve been reading about young, amazing indigenous chefs who are promoting and educating others about their food traditions and culture.
When you strip a culture of their access to traditional foods you strip them of their history and weaken their community.
I relate to the connection between food and community strength because for me, food is how I share my love and my energy with others.
Restoration of traditional foods brings restoration of knowledge, tradition and health.
