Keepunumuk: Weeachumun’s Thanksgiving Story
ISBN
9781623542900
Publisher & Publication Year
Charlesbridge, 2022
Author
Danielle Hill (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), and Alexis Bunten (Yu'pik/Unangan)
Illustrator
Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe)
Synopsis
Summary
In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without the members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land where the Pilgrims settled, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun (corn), the Native people wouldn’t have been able to help.
Notable Achievements
CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers (2023); New England Book Award (2022); Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2022; A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Multicultural Children's Book of 2022
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Educator Guide
These two guides, designed to reframe the story of Thanksgiving from an Indigenous perspective and teach students about Indigenous agricultural and ecological practices, provide lesson plans with instructional guidelines, activities and homework materials, and additional resources such as handouts, videos, and links to further reading.
