First National Day of Mourning 1970

The first-ever National Day of Mourning was observed on November 26th, 1970, on the same day of Thanksgiving. Native American people of the United States observe this day every year.

Mourning day is actually an annual event organized on the fourth Thursday of November month, especially to educate the people of the United States of America about the myths of early Thanksgiving days associated with the Native American people and the atrocities they faced from European settlers.

[Did You Know? The White European Colonizers killed Around 55 Million Native American People From The Year 1492 to 1900. Almost 90 Percent of Them Perished From 1492 To 1600. Mostly, Those Innocent People Had To Give Up Due To Some Terrible Diseases, Genocides, and Slavery]

How Did The “National Day of Mourning” Start In The United States?

In 1970, the first National Day of Mourning began with the speech of Frank “Wamsutta” James.

At the end of 1970, on Thanksgiving day, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts organized the 350th anniversary of the first landing of the Mayflower in the new world.

Here they invited Frank James to deliver a speech on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth.

However, instead of doing that, James delivered a different speech, where he strongly criticized White Europeans for their doings in the past days.

Almost 500 Native Americans attended the event, who came from various parts of the United States.

The speech encouraged them to observe a day of mourning on the very same day Thanksgiving.

Therefore, since 1970, Native Americans have been observing this day every year. They also call it ‘Unthanksgiving Day’.

Who Was Frank Wamsutta James?

Frank Wamsutta James was a leader Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and the president of the Federated Eastern Indian League.

He was the main thread of observing the National Day of Mourning.