Nature Science

BEAUTIFUL NATIVE AMERICAN THANK-YOUS

by Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison. Native American Indian US Americana.

The biggest Thank-You we owe as we celebrate Thanksgiving is to Native Americans. We owe them gratitude for sharing their knowledge, their food, and other resources with early European settlers who came to this land. Of course we owe them much more given that so much more was taken from them, beyond what they freely offered.

One thing we can take today that can both help us and honor Native Americans, is to learn about the ways in which they have always practiced gratitude -- to learn about their traditions for giving thanks.

Native Americans incorporate gratitude into their daily lives. Native Americans say Thank-You for everything in nature, from the stars in the sky to the ground upon which they walk, from their families to their ancestors, from their Creator to their fellow humans.

They also celebrate giving thanks at a number for festivals, feasts, and important times of the year during growing and harvest seasons, in particular.

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has shared a beautiful and powerful Native American Thanksgiving Address. We are sharing it with you below.

Native American man dressed in traditional clothing with a feathered headdress.

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.

Our planet earth as the big blue marble.

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.

Autumnal view of the blue sky reflected in the marsh.

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.

Bluish green trout swimming in water.

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.

Beautiful orange and purple wildflowers grow in the Carrizo Plain. New Mexico.

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.

Two rows of dried out multi-colored Indian corn.

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.

A close up look at beautiful yarrow plant.

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.

Two bison graze in the golden sunlit grass at Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming.

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.

A man looks back at his tent in a shady part of a field, surrounded by orange, yellow, red, and green trees.

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.

A spectacularly colored wild turkey in a field.

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.

Native American dancer with a spectacular headdress made of colorful feathers.

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.

Stunning lightning strikes the night sky.

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.

Large orange sun sets against a darkened sky.

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.

Owl perches on a wooden post with purple flowers in behind it and with the orange moon off in the distance.

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.

Beautiful starry night sky with cactus silhouettes.

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.

Traditionally dressed Native American petting a wild male deer with antlers.

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.

Glorious sunset on the ocean, with red, orange & yellow light viewed through clouds.

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.

Native American headdress with feathers on a pole with horns.

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.

Man dressed in traditional Native American clothing and headdress, with feathers.

Here is an Iroquois Prayer giving thanks:

“We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squash, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit.

We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to our grandfather He-no, who has given to us his rain.

We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.”

Antique postcard shows a group of Native American girls sitting around a stone circle.

November is American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month. Learn more at The Native American Rights Fund (NARF), a fantastic organization that not only supports Native Americans, but also offers important information for everyone who wants to learn more and do more to support them.

See more beautiful Native American stories in our posts Native American Vintage Portraits and Contemporary Native American Portraits.

Man in Native American ceremonial dress, with yellow, white, black and red feathers.

Read more about Beautiful Thank-You’s in Beautiful Places to Say Thank You, Amazing Flowers For Amazing Thank-Yous, and We’re Grateful for WIld Turkeys.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Man dressed in colorful Native American clothing and headdress, with green black and white feathers.

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Man wearing colorful Native American headdress, with long red turkey feathers and shorter yellow, black and white feathers.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison. Native American Indian US Americana. Algonquin. Adirondack Native American family picture, taking outside teepee, in Lake George, NY, by Richard Dean. (Unsent). Antique postcard.
Image: by Anne Marie Rowley. “Strong.”
Image: Courtesy of NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center. “Big Blue Marble.”
Image: by Christian Barrette. “Présence.”
Image: by tab2_dawa. “Trout.”
Image: Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management. “Carrizo Plain.” New Mexico.
Image: by JR P. “BOUNTIFUL EARTH - Indian Corn.”
Image: by Fred F. “Yarrow.”
Image: by Tinkurlab. “Bison.” Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Image: by Diane Cordell. “Native Son.”
Image: by Olin Gilbert. "’Tom Turkey’ ...as named by Jill…”
Image: by Wesley Hetrick. “Aztec Dancers.”
Image: by Carolina Ödman. “Lightning.”
Image: by Nic Redhead. “Sun.”
Image: by Alice Popkorn. “Wisdom of the night.”
Image: Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management. “February.”
Image: by Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison. “Native American Indian US Americana 1957. Michigan Indian Tribal Member with Huge Buck Deer.” Antique postcard.
Image: by Alon. “Cathedral of light at sunset.”
Image: by Chris Parfitt. “Native American Headdress.”
Image: by Luis Miguel. “Native American Indian Festival.”
Image: Courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park. "GIRLS PLAYING GAME OF [ ? ] SUPAI" ON AN ‘F.H. MAUDE, LOS ANGELES" LABEL.’” Antique Postcard. Circa 1900.
Image: Courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Native American Ceremonial Dress.
Image: by Scott Lum. “Seattle May Day Protest.”
Image: by Scott Lum. “Seattle May Day Protest.”