Thanksgiving serves up some ‘old time religion’ - American Indian Style

[The Straight Story]

Thanksgiving serves up some ‘old time religion’

Story Published: Nov 21, 2008

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt of a popular column written by our late friend and teacher, John C. Mohawk (1945-2006). It was originally published in Nov. 2003.

.....

The agricultural Indians of the Northeast woodlands, including the Algonkians of which the Wampanoag were members, celebrated the fruits of the harvest and the arrival of the hunting season in November with a feast which included three days of dancing, singing, and speeches of thanksgiving. Indeed, most of the North American Indian cultures had a whole calendar year of ceremonials of thanksgiving. There were six such major ceremonials of thanksgiving among the New England peoples. They told the English about their custom and asked about a joint celebration. The English could remember a similar ceremony, Home Harvest, practiced in England for centuries, and the two had found something they had in common. The English invited the Indians to their town, but when the Indians arrived it was discovered the English didn’t have enough food, so the Indians brought venison and vegetables. They would have eaten very much the menu mentioned earlier, except that the first shared Thanksgiving had no turkeys. Those came later. There was also no singing or dancing, the Saints (Puritans) disapproving of such as pleasures even when they were mostly religious. The Indians, we can be certain, thought the Puritans as odd, as we would today. The first Thanksgiving celebrated by Europeans in North America in 1621 was largely supplied by the Indians.

The contemporary Thanksgiving as celebrated by Americans takes place at the same time of year and involves a feast as did the ancient first Americans’ thanksgiving harvest celebration, but they are as different in spirit as are these peoples. When Americans are asked what they have to be thankful for, they produce a list of things related to their individual happiness or well being: good health, friends and family, economic well-being, and strong emotional relationships. The English at the first Thanksgiving had reason to express gratitude to their God for their collective survival against difficult odds in a new land, and had they even a trace of self-awareness they might have included Squanto on their list.

The Indians of the time had a different custom. They recognized that life, all life on the planet, is a miracle of good fortune, that it is dependent on numerous components which include earth and vegetation and water and sun and moon and in all a complex order of higher powers and that humans, as a species which is aware of this good fortune, has an obligation to express a collective statement of gratitude in joyous celebration of the good gifts of the powers of the universe. That, for the Indians, was an important part of their “old time religion.”

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/34873449.html

[KittyWampus]

1. the article here presumes too much about what spirit Americans today give thanks-

In fact, the observation in the article seems much like a stereotype.


Whenever presiding over a celebration meal I offer a very succinct version of a Buddhist prayer-

"This meal is the product of the labour from countless beings. Let us remember their toil and accept this offering with gratitude".



Here are the full versions:

First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.



..................................................


This meal is the labour of countless beings. Let us accept this offering with gratitude.

This meal is taken to strengthen our exertions, for greed and opinion are strong. Let us
deserve this offering.

This meal is taken to help us become clear and generous. Let us pay attention.

This meal is taken to nourish and sustain our practice. Let us be moderate.

This meal is taken to help all beings attain Buddha way. Let us practice
wholeheartedly.

This meal is finished. Our strength is restored for us to teach the Dhamma.

[msongs]

2. good thing the original tribes never had wars or killed each other nt

[The Straight Story]

3. Indeed they did, this writer did not really get into all that though here

was talking about the difference in thanking for things - and was not even complaining about non-indians and noted that the pilgrims gave thanks, rightly so, for surviving.

Indians were in a different situation at the time, so their tradition of thanks is based on something else.

I don't think either are bad, and I don't think the author does either.