All about the ancient tribes
The historical significance of the festival, on the other hand, has long been questioned. Ramona Peters works as a historic preservation officer for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, which is a federally recognized Native American tribe. Native Americans were present during what is believed to be the first Thanksgiving, which took place in 1621.
It was reported by two key leaders in the Plymouth Colony as a three-day feast and harvest celebration, which was attended by the colonists as well as a party of Wampanoag Native Americans, led by Massasoit, who were also there.
President of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Cedric Cromwell stated that the first Thanksgiving was not the ‘Normal Rockwell’ depiction of native people sitting merrily on the ground and being fed pies as depicted in popular culture. He said that the feast was a diplomatic endeavor to bring about peace after the Wampanoag noticed Pilgrims practicing with muskets in a field nearby.
Because the 1621 Thanksgiving celebration coincided with the Pilgrims’ first fall harvest, it is likely that the colonists feasted on the produce they had harvested with the assistance of their Native American neighbors. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.