The Prayer of Thanksgiving

by Melanie Printup Hope

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 prayer follows a general structure, however, individual speakers use their own distinct words and expression. This prayer follows an order, beginning with the lowest spiritual forces on Earth, continuing to those in the sky, and ending with the highest forces beyond the sky. The prayer begins with The People.

The Spiritual Forces on the Earth are: the People, our Mother Earth, the Waters, the Fish, the Grasses, the Plants, our Sustenance, the Animals, the Trees, and the Birds. Earth

Throughout the year
we bring our minds together as one

We give thanks to one another
All year long
she gives us all that we need
We give thanks to our Mother Earth

Everyday
it quenches our thirst

We give thanks to the waters
In winter
it replenishes the lakes
We give thanks to the waters

During the year
they purify the lakes
We give thanks to the fish

When the wind turns warm
a green blanket appears
We give thanks to the grasses

In early summer
the flowers turn sweet
We give thanks to the medicinal plants

In early summer
they help us survive
We give thanks to the food plants

In midsummer
we dance for the green corn
We give thanks to our sustenance

In midsummer
we dance for the red beans
We give thanks to our sustenance

At the end of summer
we celebrate good fortune
We give thanks to our sustenance

During the winter
their pelts warm the soul
We give thanks to the animal creatures

Since early times
they have been our companions
We give thanks to the animal creatures

In early spring
we are glad they reappear
We give thanks to the animal creatures

At one point in time
it became a symbol of peace
We give thanks to the trees

At the end of spring
the sap will flow
We give thanks to the trees

In early morning
they carry messages
In the summer
they sing sweet songs
We give thanks to the birds

In times of danger
he warns the people
We give thanks to the birds

The artist, Melanie Printup Hope (Tuscarora), has transformed this prayer into visuals created with beads and computer imaging. She was inspired by the faithkeepers in her community and has divided the images into three levels: the Spiritual Forces on the Earth, the Spiritual Forces in the Sky, and the Spiritual Forces beyond the Sky. Normally, a faithkeeper recites these elements in this order, however, you can explore them in whatever order you wish.

You can also listen to the pray given by Howard Hill (Tuscarora) in the Tuscarora language. He is one of the last fluent speakers from the tribe.

Website Link~Melanie Printup Hope

Graphic created by Evening Rain November 2005

National Day of Mourning

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Last updated on November 22, 2005