Native Americans have always been part of the Thanksgiving experience, and for all kinds of reasons. Alana, from Tennessee sent me a prayer of “Greetings And Thanks,” a Thanksgiving prayer spoken whenever members of the Onondaga Nation gather. For those of us struggling to find more meaning in the holiday than bargains online or in malls, I recommend it, it is both beautiful and timeless.

The prayer reminds me to grateful for life and the gifts of life, things we take for granted in our sometimes selfish, complaining and divided world. Our culture reminds me of the pain and anguish and division of a world committed to greed and self-interest, and without common values and purpose. We have forgotten who we are and where we came from. This prayer remind me today of the days’ true purpose.

In this, perhaps, we are of one mind. To the earth, greetings and thanks.

 

Greetings and thanks, to each other as people.

To the Earth

mother of all, greetings and thanks.

To All The Waters

waterfall and rain

rivers and oceans,

greetings and thanks.

To all the Fish Life, greetings and thanks

The Grains and Greens, Beans and Berries,

As one we send thanks to all food plants.

Medicine Herbs

of the world, and their keepers, greetings and thanks.

To All Animals

and their teachings, greetings and thanks.

To the Trees

for shelter and shade,

fruit and beauty, greetings and thanks.

To All Birds,

large and small,

joyful greetings and thanks

And from the four directions,

The Four Winds,

thank you for purifyig

the air we breathe,

and giving us strength,

Greetings

and now The Sun

for the light of a new day,

and all the fires of life,

greetings and thanks.

To Our Teachers

from all times

reminding us of how

to live in harmony

greetings and thanks.

And For All The Gifts Of Creation

for all the love

around us, greetings and thanks.

We end our words.

Now our minds are one.