Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story
In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving.
Written and illustrated by four Indigenous creators, this picture book for 3-7-year-olds is about the first Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective—reshaping the story and perhaps questioning how the United States sees itself.
The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun (corn), the Native people wouldn't have helped.
Written by Danielle Greendeer (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), Alexis Bunten (Unangan/Yup’ik) and beautifully illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe), Keepunumuk is an important picture book honoring both the history and tradition that surrounds the story of the first Thanksgiving.
Book At A Glance
# of Pages: 32
Book Binding: Hardcover
Year of Publication: 2022
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Language: en
ISBN: 9781623542900
Creator Bio
Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten, and Garry Meeches Sr. are a diverse group of authors who have come together to co-write Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story. Danielle Greendeer is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and has a background in education and Native American studies. Anthony Perry is a filmmaker and member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Alexis Bunten is an anthropologist and author who has worked closely with indigenous communities in Alaska. Garry Meeches Sr. is an elder and knowledge keeper from the Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba, Canada. These authors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their writing, and their collaboration has resulted in a powerful and authentic retelling of a traditional Thanksgiving story.
