Total Number Of Pages: 1
Source: Scanned from the original photograph which is 10 inches in width and 8 inches in height.
Date: 1940-11-19
Language: English
Coverage: Unknown
Creators:
Red Thunder Cloud [Cromwell Ashbie Hawkins West]
Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions
Description: The caption reads:
"November 19, 1953, just one week before the traditional Thanksgiving Day, the Indians of the Shinnecock Reservation celebrated their first "Indian Thanksgiving" in many years. Over 100 members of the tribe attended.
In conjunction with the Thanksgiving celebration, Mrs. Lulu Hunter, the daughter of Wickham Cuffee, celebrated her 84th birthday. Seated at the long table are Mrs. Lulu Hunter, left side of the table, Mrs. Edna Eleazar, Shinnecock, Montauk, Mrs. Smith who married into the tribe, Miss Stella Arch, Mrs. Herbert Eleazar, Mrs. Eliza Beaman, a Montauk, Mr. Anthony Beaman standing, Charles K. Smith, Harry Williams, right side of the table, Mrs. Camille Smith (see photo 4), Fred Smith (see photo 15) and Mrs. Charles Bunn who married into the tribe. At the table in the background, Julie Smith, Mrs. Henry Thompson, back to camera, Mr. Lincoln Smith, and Mrs. Lincoln Smith.
The revival of the Indian thanksgiving was made possible by the joint efforts of the entire Indian community, both on the reservation and in the village. During the evening several oldtimers remarked that the reason for the Indian Thanksgiving as held by the Shinnecocks was because in the old days the Indian women were always in such demand by the local women of Southampton for Thanksgiving Day cooking. So in order for the Indians to properly enjoy their own Thanksgiving dinner they had it a week earlier. This was traditional for many years but lately the custom had fallen into neglect and the young people had never known of Indian Thanksgiving.
The women of the reservation prepared the meal under the direction of Mrs. Isadore Smith and from an observer's viewpoint it appeared as though there were nearly as many people working in the kitchen and serving food, as there were at the tables.
After the meal, several old timers spoke of their early experiences on the reservation and expressed their thanks for the opportunity to observe the old holiday.
Several of the younger members of the tribe expressed the desire to keep the custom alive by observing the Indian Thanksgiving in the years to come. Of the people in this rare photo only seven are alive today. (March 31, 1969)"
