A month recognized for giving thanks, November, a month of roasted turkey, hearing sounds of laughter echoing through places where we celebrate with a Thanksgiving dinner. A day when family and friends gather, where many do not understand the real significance of this holiday. For many, it is a holiday rooted in gratitude, togetherness, and tradition. Yet for Native communities, this time of year carries a more complicated history often left untold. It is a story of survival in the face of loss, resilience amid erasure, and cultural endurance despite centuries of injustice.

As a Latina woman who recently turned 48, this “age of change” has given me a new perspective on traditions and the stories we pass down. Aging has taught me the importance of listening, really listening to voices that history has too often silenced. As I grow older, I’ve realized that part of wisdom is acknowledging the truths I once overlooked and seeking ways to restore balance where there has been harm.

In my culture, family and caregiving are deeply rooted values. Hispanic-Latino families gather across generations, share meals, tell stories, and care for one another in times of need. Yes, many resist the idea of long-term care facilities because we believe love and responsibility should keep families together. Yet as I reflect on this, I cannot help but see the parallels with Native tradition, whose traditions honor elders, protect the land, and value community above all else. These values have existed on this continent for thousands of years before we began celebrating Thanksgiving.

But the history of Thanksgiving is complicated. In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Indigenous communities have a traumatic history that has sought to erase their cultural identity. Yet, they stand in solidarity to keep what little they have left. 

The historical injustices that continue to shape present-day realities, as Native populations face persistent gaps in healthcare access, educational outcomes, and economic opportunity. Acknowledging this does not mean we cannot celebrate Thanksgiving; it means we choose to celebrate it with a fuller understanding of the truth.

This November, I ask: How can we honor gratitude and justice? How can we hold space for family traditions while recognizing the histories and voices of those who have not been heard but hidden?

In my deep-rooted beliefs, I ask myself if the answer lies in transforming Thanksgiving into a time of celebration and reflection with family and friends. A season and Thanksgiving where we gather with loved ones, learn about the Native nations whose land we live on, and look for ways to contribute to becoming a better nation. We can support Indigenous led organizations, amplify Native voices, and teach our children the whole history of this holiday, not just the simplified version found in textbooks. 

We support our Indigenous brothers and sisters by telling the profound truths researchers have written about, starting with Puerto Rico. 

As Latinas, we know what it feels like to be stereotyped and overlooked. Latinas who live in a society where too often, we are seen only as homemakers, caretakers, or workers in hotels and kitchens, our identities reduced to belittle who we are in this world, narrowing us to these roles. Native communities, too, have faced generations of invisibility and misrepresentation. This shared experience can become a bridge for solidarity. We can stand alongside Native peoples in calls for equity, cultural preservation, and healing.

Growing older has shown me that an “age of change” is not just about physical aging but about changing hearts, minds, and systems. It is about having the courage to speak uncomfortable truths and the wisdom to imagine a better future.

How can we make November more than just a day of giving thanks? We can make this a month of giving, ourselves a month for reflection, healing, and meaningful action before entering into a new year as the year ends. As we sit with family and friends, we could also support the communities whose stories are often left out by volunteering with Native organizations, advocating for fairness and equity, and protecting the lands, languages, and traditions that have endured for generations.

We are a society that acknowledges Indigenous history, justice, and the possibility of reconciliation. We educate our loved ones about the importance of doing the right thing, especially when others are not looking. 

An age of change invites us to move forward with compassion and courage during this season of giving thanks after the fall leaves have fallen. We should call ourselves to honor the traditions that have shaped our society and to have the courage to reimagine the legacy we leave behind for future generations. Let this season challenge family and friends, a nation as a whole, to expand the meaning of Thanksgiving beyond the simple act of gathering and giving thanks.

It invites us to transform it into a catalyst for collective healing, a commitment to equity, and a shared vision of sustainable well-being that honors every community and every story.