Perry Ground - Cultural Educator

^{Image courtesy of the Fenimore Art Museum.}

At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, master storyteller Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation, presents “Re-Thinking Thanksgiving: A Native American View on an American Holiday” at Jamestown Settlement. 

This lively presentation will give an overview of the history of this very misunderstood holiday. Based on the only primary source document that chronicles the first thanksgiving and using a quiz-style format, participants will learn accurate and culturally appropriate information about the English settlers at Plymouth and the Wampanoag, the Native people who inhabited that area.

The presentation will discuss the actual events of 1621 in Plymouth, the relationship between the English settlers and the Wampanoag and how this story became the holiday we know today. The concept of thanksgiving held by many Native Americans will be emphasized throughout.

Although they were not present in Plymouth in 1621, connections to the Haudenosaunee concepts of thanksgiving will be discussed so participants will understand how native people view Thanksgiving today.

Ground is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. He has been a storyteller and educator for over 25 years and enjoys working with people of all ages to teach about the history and culture of Native peoples.

The program is included with Jamestown Settlement museum admission.

Festive holiday events

Enjoy the holidays at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with special events, Winter Lantern Festival, November 13, 2025 - January 4, 2026, Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia, November 29-30, Candlelight Christmas, December 13, and Christmastide in Virginia, December 20-31, 2025.

'Tis the season for centuries old merriment

December 20-31, 2025

Grab your family and friends and join in the revelry during Christmastide in Virginia. Glimpse 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions through festive interpretive programs, fancy cooking, caroling and musical entertainment.

The holiday festivities happen at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas Day. Experience immersive exhibition galleries that lead to interpretive activities in re-created outdoor settings reminiscent of early Virginia.

Enjoy family-friendly fun

Jamestown Settlement admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Add a visit to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with a value-priced combination ticket.

Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency.

About Jamestown Settlement

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days), Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. The museum features expansive exhibition galleries and films that connect visitors with the lives of the Powhatan, English and West Central African cultures that converged at 17th-century Jamestown. Outdoor living-history areas feature historical interpretation in re-creations of Paspahegh Town, 1607 English ships and a colonial fort.

Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Plan your visit today or call (757) 253-4838 for more information.

Explore other activities and events happening throughout the year.