Thanksgiving can be a complicated “holiday”, wrapped in memories of food, family, and togetherness but also in deep histories of colonization. If we’re choosing to gather on this day, we have the opportunity to bring something new to the prepared table of food—something that respects Indigenous history, land, and sovereignty. Here are five intentional ways to decolonize Thanksgiving through the lens of love, respect, and solidarity.
Reframe as Grub & Gratitude Day
Words matter, and renaming Thanksgiving as “Grub & Gratitude Day” can shift the focus from a complicated historical narrative to one that’s centered on genuine appreciation. Grub & Gratitude Day can be about pausing to acknowledge the abundance in our lives—without glossing over the complexities of the day’s origins.
For Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving can be a painful reminder of colonization and the loss of land, lives and traditions. By choosing to call it Grub & Gratitude, we create a more inclusive and respectful space, inviting everyone to appreciate what we have in a way that honors rather than obscures history.
Maybe the shift in language can feel subtle, but it can open up new ways to acknowledge this day that feel more truthful, inclusive and connected to values of love and respect.
Take Time for Reflection and Intention
Let’s begin with the heart. Thanksgiving, at its best, is a time to reflect on gratitude. But this day, with its history, calls for a deep reflection on how we got here. Consider taking time to learn about the land you’re on and its original caretakers, the Indigenous people who stewarded it long before settlers arrived. Use this map to see what land you’re on—the majority of the Companies Doing Good team resides within the land of Arapaho, Ute and Cheyenne tribes. Use this knowledge as a way to remind yourself and others that gratitude isn’t just for what we receive but also for the resilience of those who were here first.
A simple but powerful ritual? Before the meal, share a land acknowledgment, one that’s spoken with respect and a pledge to learn, support, and stand with Indigenous communities. This practice can turn a traditional Grub & Gratitude meal into acknowledgement.
Starting New Traditions: Gratitude Pumpkin
Skip the traditional costumes, turkey hats, and settler outfits. Have an old pumpkin lying around after Halloween? Bring it inside, grab a sharpie, and each night before dinner go around your table and say what you are thankful for, documenting it on that sweet little gourd. Take it a step further, and anytime someone stops by your place during the month of November, offer them the opportunity to contribute to the Gratitude Pumpkin. And then, on Grub & Gratitude, send it around the table and gather your final bits of appreciation. A whole month of gratitude, displayed and captured, starting a new tradition that is built on community rather than on oppression.
Love on the Land
This is a beautiful, tangible way to show respect to one of the most important family members to Indigenous communities, their land. Consider buying local, supporting Indigenous farmers, helping to turnover farmland for community co-ops, regenerate your own green space or backyard while preparing for winter, or begin a composting project to ensure less waste and a more circular agricultural model.
Supporting Indigenous-owned farms and food businesses can bring this idea to life even more. Buy ingredients from Native farmers or markets if available in your area, or support them online. You have the power to advocate for the land with your dollars, so use them intentionally.
Educate and Advocate for Land Back and Indigenous Rights
Embrace tangible ways to Give Back such as supporting Land Back movements. The return of Indigenous lands to Indigenous stewardship is not just symbolic; it’s essential to the healing of communities and the environment.
Learn about local or national land back initiatives. Sign petitions, join online campaigns or attend events that champion this cause. Also consider taking donations during your Grub & Gratitude Feast to support land back movements. Family doesn’t feel like the right fit? Consider sharing these campaigns with your company team, or even making a corporate commitment to support Land Back . Land campaigns in 2025. Land back rights are a fundamental part of our values at Companies Doing Good because we know land is life—and the return of land is an act of justice.
Celebrating Grub & Gratitude Day isn’t about erasing tradition; it’s about grounding it in respect, truth, and love for the people whose histories are woven into this land. This year, let’s choose to celebrate not only with those we love but in ways that honor and uplift. This isn’t just about one day; it’s about creating an enduring culture of respect and care for Indigenous communities and each other.