Decolonizing Thanksgiving & Columbus (IN PERSON)

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 · 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Children's Activity Room — 94 State St., Newburyport, MA

What happens when we revisit familiar stories through an Indigenous lens? This interactive presentation examines the histories and narratives surrounding Columbus and Thanksgiving, including what many of us learned in school, what was left out, and how those stories continue to shape our understanding of Indigenous Peoples today. Participants will explore colonization, stereotypes, historical erasure, and the importance of contemporary Indigenous presence and sovereignty. Together, we will consider how learning a fuller history can help us move beyond myths and toward greater understanding, truth-telling, and respect. Dr. Claudia A. Fox Tree is a multiracial Indigenous woman of color, educator, author, and speaker. She is a citizen of the Arawak-Taíno iukaieke Guainía and has worked in education for more than 35 years. A retired middle school special education teacher, Claudia has been an instructor with Initiatives for Developing Equity and Achievement for Students (IDEAS) since 1991, facilitating courses and workshops focused on decolonizing curriculum, racial identity, microaggressions, cultural erasure, representation, and culturally responsive education. Claudia earned her…