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Word About Life With Thanksgiving Litany
Led by Worship Leaders and Jenn Steege
The litany is a Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. This is a translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee. This address was developed and published in 1993, provided courtesy of Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project. It is available online via The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
The People (Sue Stuart)
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 (Roy Zaborowski)
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 (Linda Pape)
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 (Linda Johnston)
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 (Travis Meyers)
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 (Sue Stuart)
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 (Judy Schwiebert)
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 (Roy Zaborowski)
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 (Linda Pape)
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 (Linda Johnston)
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 Thunderers (Barbara Zaborowski)
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 Four Winds (Judy Schwiebert)
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 Sun (Travis Meyers)
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.
The Enlightened Teachers (Barbara Zaborowski)
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.
Grandmother Moon (Linda Johnston)
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 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 (Roy Zaborowski)
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 Creator (Judy Schwiebert)
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 (Pastor Ken)
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 forgoĴen, we leave it
to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in
their own way.
Now our minds are one.
In response to everything we have been made mindful, let
us give of ourselves and our offerings.
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