Years ago, I was given a small booklet of the traditional Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address (or “Words Before All Else”) for starting a gathering by Chief George Adams of Akwesasne, while I was facilitating a project with the community. The articulation of gratitude for all that is, and the group response after each statement of gratitude of “Now our minds are one”, gives me joy. I have carried it in my backpack for years, using it to start meetings and gatherings when respectful and appropriate. The structure is important, but the number of words within each section can be longer or shorter. This short version was contributed by Harold Tarbell for the Diversity Learning Circles course. We also used it to start our ICA Associates Board meeting on September 30.
Ohenton Karihwahtehkwen (Thanksgiving Address, or “Words Before All Else”)
Short form contributed by Harold Tarbell, Mohawk from Akwesasne, for the Diversity Learning Circles course.
Opening Protocol
People
Today, we have gathered and we see that as the cycle of life continues, we have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and the natural world. So now we bring our minds together as one and give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.
Our Mother the Earth
We are all thankful to our Mother the Earth for she gives us all that we need for life. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has since the beginning of time. To our Mother the Earth, we send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst. Water is life. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the waters.
Now our minds are one.
The Fish
We turn our minds to all the fish life in the waters. They cleanse and purify the water and give themselves to us as food. So turn now to the fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Plants and Animals, our sisters and brothers
With one mind we turn to the plant and animal life. We acknowledge the food plants, the medicine plants and the trees. We also acknowledge all the animal life in the world. We send our greetings and thanks to the plant and animal life.
Now our minds are one.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the birds that move and fly about over our heads and share their songs with us.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds, Grandfather Thunderers, Eldest Brother Sun, Grandmother Moon, and Stars
As we move to the sky world, we send greetings and thanks to the four winds, our grandfather thunderers, our eldest brother the sun, our grandmother moon, and the stars as we are part of the family of life.
Now our minds are one.
Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds together as one and send greetings and thanks to our enlightened teachers who help and guide us to live in peace and harmony with the natural world.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, our great spirit and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of creation, for all the love that is still around us. We gather our minds together as one and send our greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. If something was forgotten, I leave it to each of you to send greetings and thanks in your own way.
Now our minds are one.
