Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World

by John Stokes

These words of thanksgiving come to us from the Native people known as the Haudenosaunee (also Iroquois or Six Nations ‹ Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora) of upstate New York and Canada. The Thanksgiving Address has ancient roots, dating back over one thousand years to the formation of the Great Law of Peace by a man called the Peacemaker, and perhaps before that. Today these words are still spoken at the opening and closing of all ceremonial and governmental gatherings held by the Six Nations. We believe that all people at one time in their history had similar words to acknowledge the works of the Creator. With this in mind, we offer these words in a written form as a way to reacquaint ourselves with this shared vision. Our version of the Thanksgiving Address has been modified for a young, general audience‹it has been shortened and many specific references to the culture of the Six Nations have been generalized. We hope this will enhance the accessibility of the words for readers around the world. You are invited‹encouraged‹to share in these words, that our concentrated attention might help us rediscover our balance, respect, and oneness with Nature. Now our minds are one. John Stokes
The Tracking Project

Genres: Nature, Religion, Nonfiction, Indigenous

38 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanksgiving address or "words that are spoken before all else". Very uplifting.

[Harlow]

I bought this little book (more like a pamphlet) at the National Museum of the American Indian (formerly the U. S. Customs House), on Lenape land.

EDIT: revisited this book while reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” (chapter Allegiance to Gratitude) and “A Two-Spirit Journey.”

EDIT: discovered a video (0:10:17) of the Ohenton Karihwatekwen - the words that come before all else - on Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School social media

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very small book. My copy is 4 inches by 5 inches, stapled, with a cardstock cover. English and Mohawk with black and white illustrations. There is a children's book based on the same Thanksgiving Address...Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp, if you would like a more colorful version.

[Asa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving address online for free here:

https://americanindian.si.edu/environ...

Excerpt:

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...

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little gem of a book.
I loved it :-) It made me stand still and contemplate all good things in my life that I have reasons to be greatful for.
I simply say "Thank You!"

[Maryam Hosseini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! We read one page each before thanksgiving dinner and it made this year’s thanksgiving different for me!