Haudenosaunee 
Thanksgiving 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. 

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. 

​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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was 
developed, published in 1993, and provided, courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the 
Tracking Project