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# 2023-07-18 - Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address
# Greetings to the Natural World
# The People
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue.
We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each
other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as
one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.
# The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all
that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon
her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has
from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and
thanks.
Now our minds are one.
# The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our
thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its
power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers
and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit
of Water.
Now our minds are one.
# The Fish
We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were
instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves
to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So,
we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
# The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye
can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many
life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look
forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
# The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we
harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains,
vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many
other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the
Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
# The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the
beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always
waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us
those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing.
With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to
the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
# The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the
Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as
people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we
may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our
homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we
hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one
# The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of
Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with
shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things.
Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and
strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.
# The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and
fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each
day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen
to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the
largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
# The Four Winds
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear
their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air
we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the
four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us
strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the
Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.
# The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings,
live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the
water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil
things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as
one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.
# The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each
day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the
light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With
one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
# Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother,
the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman
all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides.
By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches
over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send
greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
# The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like
jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the
darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we
travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together
as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
# The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who
have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in
harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as
people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring
teachers.
Now our minds are one.
# The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send
greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we
need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the
love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and
send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
# Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the
things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out.
If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send
such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
-----
This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee
Thanksgiving Address was developed, published in 1993, and provided,
courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project
All rights reserved.
Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World English version:
John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk)
Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
(HTM) Thanksgiving Address (PDF)
tags: native-american,spirit
# Tags
(DIR) native-american
(DIR) spirit