People descended onto Cole's Hill in Plymouth to “honor Indigenous ancestors and Native resilience” during a National Day of Mourning.

For more than half a century, groups of Native Americans have been gathering on Thanksgiving to mark a National Day of Mourning at a historic site in Massachusetts. They honor their ancestors who were subject to atrocities by settlers in the 17th century.

Since 1970, Indigenous people and their allies have gathered in Plymouth, Massachusetts on the fourth Thursday of November. This day, also home to the federal holiday of Thanksgiving, is known there by another name: National Day of Mourning.

The ceremony dates back to 1970 when Kisha James‘ grandfather was invited to speak at a commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in Plymouth.

Since 1970, they have gathered in Plymouth to focus on the origins of Thanksgiving and to look at the issues that Native Americans face to this day.