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The Thanksgiving Prayer from the Mohawks:
http://www.peace4turtleisland.org/pages/Thanks.htm
This prayer comes from the Native people of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois (or Haudenosanee) is comprised of six Native tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora, all located in New York State and Canada.
The prayer is based on the belief that the world can not be taken for granted, and that we must thank all living things in order to align our minds with the natural world. This prayer is the backbone of the Iroquois culture. A faithkeeper is selected to share the words of thanksgiving at the opening and closing of social, government, and ceremonial events.
~*~ 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 Water. Now our minds are
one.
~*~ The Fish ~*~
We turn our minds to 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 towards 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 and 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 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, other with fruit, beauty and other useful things.
Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength.
With one mind, we greet and thank the tree of 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 to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they
come, bringing us messengers and giving us strength.
With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds. Now our
minds are one.
~*~ The Thunders ~*~
Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live.
With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that
renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks
to our Grandfathers, the Thunders. Now our minds are one.
~*~ The Sun ~*~
We now send the 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 and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the
Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women 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 all 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 ~*~
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 intent 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.
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CREDITS 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)
Copyright ? 1993 Six Nations Indian Museum and The Tracking Project.
Mohawk Prayer of Thanksgiving - http://aihc1998.tripod.com/mohawkpr.html
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