These words of thanksgiving come to us from the Native people known as the Haudenosunee, also known as the Iroquois or Six Nations of upstate New York and Canada.

The Thanksgiving Address has ancient roots, dating back over 1000 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. 

A speaker is chosen to give the Thanksgiving Greetings on behalf of the people. They choose their won words for we are all unique and have our own style, but the general form is traditional. It follows an order in which we can relate to all of Creation. The Address is based on the belief that the world cannot be taken for granted, that a spiritual communication of thankfulness and acknowledgement of all living things must be given to align the minds and hearts of the people with Nature. This forms a guiding principle of culture.

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.

It was Jake Swamp’s original vision that this Address would go out to the children of the world, "so that later in life, when they go out and meet one another, they will find that they are all coming from the same place."

You are invited—encouraged—to share in these words, that our concentrated attention might help us rediscover our balance, respect, and oneness with Nature.

Words Before All Else

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.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life: the air that we breathe, the food that we eat, the water we drink, the earth we stand on 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.

We give thanks to all the Waterways 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. Its living form cleanses and heals all things. With one mind we send greetings and thanks to the Spirit of Water.

We turn our minds to all the Fish People in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. They also give themselves to us as food. So we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant People. 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.

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the gardens and fields. 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 Food Plants together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.

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 Keepers of the Medicines.

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal People, our Four-legged Relatives, in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. To watch them is to learn about our earth. 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.

We now turn our thoughts to the Creepy and Crawly People. They do many things in our world—butterflies add color and charm, bees provide honey and help the Food Plants. Others keep our earth clean, or offer themselves as food to sustain other life forms, or provide nutrients for the earth. We are grateful for the many small creepy and crawly insect people.

Now our Minds are One.

We now turn our thoughts to the Standing People. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide little animals and birds as well as us, with shelter and shade. Others provide 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 Life.

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Winged People who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day the 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 we turn our thoughts to the Stone People. They hold our Earth in place and support our feet. They give minerals to the land so as to replenish our gardens and fields, meadows and forests with vital nutrients to keep all life healthy. They keep the records of the earth and its many ages. With one mind, we greet and give thanks to the Rocks.

We are all thankful to the Powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as the refresh us and purify the living air, the spirit of Mother Earth, that we breathe. They help 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.

The Thunderers

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 Thunderers.

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 our Brother the Sun.

We put our minds together and 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.

We give thanks to the Star People who are spread across the sky like diamonds. 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 our relatives in the Stars.

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help through out 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 we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation this awesome world we live in. 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.