As we witness the changing of the season,
The leaves turning from green to gold,
The crisp air and beauty surrounding
We pause in recognition of Indigenous People,
The original caretakers of this land
We wish to acknowledge that the land on which we live, and work is the unceded territory of many indigenous tribes who made their homes here. We wish to honor and recognize this painful legacy of occupation and acknowledge those descendants who live among us.
May they feel loved, honored, and celebrated.
May we find reconciliation and wholeness
As we learn to lift one another up,
May we walk together,
Restoring peace with the land.
“May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day” (Native American Proverb)
We Give Thanks
We give thanks to our God.
for all the earth and all creation.
That are wonderfully made
and held dear in the heart of our God.
We give thanks for our friends
and for our families.
For those we love,
those who love us
and for those without love,
because we can love them.
We give thanks for the food we eat
and for the ability to feed those without food.
We give thanks for our life:
that we have it;
that it goes beyond our death.
We give thanks for our freedoms
and the freedom to choose our own attitude
no matter what our circumstances.
We are thankful for our health
and pray for those without health
that they might be strong
in mind and soul if not in body,
and we pray that they
might share their strength of spirit with us
as we share our strength of body with them.
We give thanks for the ability to serve
and to reap the benefits of our service.
for all good things,
We give You thanks, oh God.
~Anonymous
I give thanks for the many ways you bless my life. Blessings to you and your family!
HappyThanksgiving, soon to be!
Note: If your heart so calls to you, there are scores of wonderful Native-led foundations and organizations that you can donate funds to over the Thanksgiving break, including IllumiNative, Indian Country Media Network and First Peoples Fund
Liz Wessel
Photo by Chrissy Maio
Land Acknowledgement -Adapted by Rosanne Ponzetti
