On this Thanksgiving, we share with our readers the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.

This address represents a tradition of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy — Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk and Tuscarora.

The address, which dates back more than 1,000 years, deeply underscores the people’s relationship with the land, expresses gratitude for all the Creator’s gifts, and celebrates unity with nature and with one another.

These words are not reserved for a specific event, but are recited each day, before ceremonies, government and social events, and school days.

What follows is the Mohawk translation of the address.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers.

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.

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.

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.

The Fish

We turn our minds to the........

© The Leader Herald