Newcomers: Revisiting the First Thanksgiving

A Native American boy with bad aim draws back his bow at a big roosting bird…he just misses.The arrow also just misses some Pilgrims sleeping on the beach. Their boat, the eventual endpoint of the runaway arrow, is less lucky. Believing a shot at their vessel means war, the Pilgrims grab their guns in self-defense. Bullets are exchanged with arrows. The event known as the “First Encounter” ensues…all based on misunderstanding.Feeling to blame for the bad start between his people and the Pilgrims, the Native American boy yearns to make things right. After watching the Newcomers from afar, and seeing their struggles, he thinks he can do this by teaching. But to teach them, he must meet them. Armed with an olive branch instead of an arrow, he enters Plymouth colony for that purpose.In this revisionist retelling of the events leading up to the first Thanksgiving, everyone is better off because of that decision. Well, everyone besides the turkey. Read more