THE 47TH COMMUNITY-WIDE INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE

​

​

PRELUDE

i-pi ye-iswa (Catawba Fire Drumming Circle)

​

PROCESSIONAL

i-pi ye-iswa 

 

HAUDENOSAUNEE THANKSGIVING ADDRESS 

 
To be a human being is an honor, and we offer thanksgiving for all the gifts of life.  
 

Mother Earth, we thank you for giving us everything we need. 
Thank you, deep blue waters around mother earth, for you are the force that takes thirst away from all living things. 
We give thanks to green grasses that feel so good against her bare feet, for the cool beauty you bring to mother earth’s floor. 
 

Thank you, good foods from mother Earth, our life sustainers, for making us happy when we are hungry. 
Fruits and berries, we thank you for your color and sweetness. We are all thankful to good medicine herbs, for healing us when we are sick. 
 

Thank you, all the animals in the world, for keeping our precious forest clean. All the trees in the world, we are thankful for the shade and warmth you give us. Thank you, all the birds in the world, for singing your beautiful songs for all to enjoy. 
 
We give thanks to you gentle Four Winds, for bringing clean air for us to breathe from the four directions. 
 
Thank you, grandfather thunder beings, for bringing rains to help all living things grow. 
 
Elder brother sun, we send thanks for shining your light and warming mother earth. 
 
Thank you, Grandmother Moon, for growing full every month to light the darkness for children and sparkling waters. 
 
We give you thanks, twinkling stars, for making the night sky so beautiful and for sprinkling morning dew drops on the plants. 
 
Enlightened teachers of our past and present we thank you for showing us ways to live in peace and harmony with one another. 
 
And most of all, thank you, Great Spirit, for giving us all these wonderful gifts, so we will be happy and healthy every day and every night. 

 

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. All rights reserved. 

 

Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) 

 

WORDS OF WELCOME 
Rev. Dr. Dwayne A. Walker, Pastor, Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church  

  

INTRODUCTION OF THEME
Rev. LeDayne McLeese Polaski, Executive Director, MeckMIN

 

WELCOME TO THE CHILDREN 

 Ramona Moore Big Eagle (Tuscarora), M. Ed.,
CEO of Dare to Soar Enterprises, speaker, author, storyteller, cultural educator, consultant, and workshop facilitator

 

MUSICAL PRESENTATION 
Monty Hawk Branham (Catawba), Spiritual Guide of the Catawba Nation

  

SMALL GROUPS 
Dr. Brittany Danielle Hunt (Lumbee), owner of Indigenous Ed, LLC.

 

PRESENTATION: What Really Happened at “The First Thanksgiving?”
Ramona Moore Big Eagle (Tuscarora)

 

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

i-pi ye-iswa 

​

PRESENTATION: How Have and Do False Stories Impact Both Indigenous and Non-indigenous People?  
Dr. Brittany Danielle Hunt (Lumbee)

 

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE 

John Ederer, President, MeckMIN; Imam and Religious Director, Muslim Community Center of Charlotte

   

PRESENTATION:  How Might We Tell a Truer Story of the Past? How Might We LIVE a Better Story Now? 

Aminah Ghaffar (Lumbee/Black), Community Advocate and Journalist

 

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Monty Hawk Branham (Catawba)

​

HOLDING WHAT WE'VE HEARD 

Aminah Ghaffar (Lumbee/Black)

 

CALLS TO ACTION –

Rev. Sonja Lee, Executive Director, Lionel Lee Jr. Center for Wellness

Zach Surber, Senior Manager of Volunteer Services, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region

Rev. Amy Brooks Paradise, Vice President, MeckMIN; US Organizer for GreenFaith