Giving thanks with Indigenous people

It was already awkward to wish people a Merry Christmas, since I certainly didn't want them to say it back to me. I've stuck firmly to Happy Holidays for a lot of years.

It's getting more awkward to wish people a Happy Thanksgiving as well, since as one person put it (I forget where I saw this), we're basically celebrating a colonial conquest. Ugh.

I said that to one friend, and she reminded me about the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, Greetings to the Natural World. English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk).

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.

I wonder if we'll come around to renaming Thanksgiving or at least re-envisioning it, like Indigenous People's Day is (too slowly) replacing Columbus Day. What if white people listened on that day, and got to know the people and the land where we reside.

Which reminds me of the Shuumi Land Tax. You can find out whose land you're on through Land Acknowledgement and send a donation to a local tribe.