Thanksgiving is more than just a time of feasting and gratitude; it’s an occasion to honor the profound wisdom and heritage of Native Americans. Sacred Prayer Native American Quotes On Thanksgiving
As 49native gather to celebrate this cherished holiday, the words of Indigenous peoples offer insights, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the land and its bounty. In this collection of Native American quotes on Thanksgiving, we delve into the unique perspectives that enrich our understanding of this special day.
What do indigenous people say about Thanksgiving?
For many, Thanksgiving is synonymous with feasting, family gatherings, and gratitude. However, it is vital to recognize that for Native Americans, this holiday carries a much deeper and somber significance.
While millions celebrate the Pilgrims’ arrival in North America, for Native Americans, it’s a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of oppression and genocide that followed. In 1970, the United American Indians of New England established a powerful counter-narrative by designating Thanksgiving as the “National Day of Mourning.”
This observance is not just a solemn occasion but also a poignant form of protest, as it seeks to shed light on the painful history Native Americans have endured for centuries. In this article, we explore the essence of the National Day of Mourning, the events that unfold, and the heartfelt voices that refuse to be silenced.
What is a famous quote in Native American?
“If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace… Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The Earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it…”
– White Elk
“Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself, and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.”
– Heinmot Tooyalaket (Chief Joseph), Nez Perce Leader
“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”
– Chief Seattle, 1854
“What is Life? “It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. The True Peace. The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit), and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this. The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all you should understand that there can never be peace between nations until there is known that true peace, which, as I have often said, is within the souls of men.”
– Black Elk, Oglala Sioux and Spiritual Leader (1863 – 1950)
“May the stars carry your sadness away, May the flowers fill your heart with beauty, May hope forever wipe away your tears, And, above all, may silence make you strong.”
– Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
“Hold on to what is good, Even if it’s a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, Even if it’s a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, Even if it’s a long way from here. Hold on to your life, Even if it’s easier to let go. Hold on to my hand, Even if someday I’ll be gone away from you.”
– Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator 1830 – 1890
“And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell, and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.”
– Black Elk, Black Elk Speaks
“It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.”
– Apache Tribe
“The Holy Land is everywhere.”
– Black Elk
“I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself.”
– Teton Sioux Tribe
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.”
– Dakota Tribe
“All who have died are equal.”
– Comanche People
“All dreams spin out from the same web.”
– Hopi Tribe
“Go forward with courage. When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still; be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists – as it surely will. Then act with courage.”
– Chief White Eagle, Ponca Chief
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What is a famous Native American quote about peace?
There can never be peace between nations until it is first known that true peace is within the souls of men. ~ Native American Proverb, Oglala Sioux [18974]
“To live in peace as long as the waters run in the rivers and creeks, and as long as the stars and moon endure.”
― The Peace Treaty
Sacred Prayer Native American Quotes On Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, a cherished holiday filled with warm gatherings and delectable feasts, is a time when we reflect on our blessings and the people who hold special places in our hearts. To truly celebrate this season’s spirit, we’ve gathered a collection of heartwarming Thanksgiving quotes that span from profound expressions of gratitude to lighthearted quips about family and the joy of being together.
As you prepare to gather around your Thanksgiving table, consider sharing these inspiring quotes to elevate the festive mood and evoke thoughtful conversations. After all, what’s a Thanksgiving celebration without a dash of wisdom and humor? Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving quotes to infuse your holiday with warmth and appreciation.
Embracing Gratitude: Thanksgiving Quotes
- “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “What if, today, we were grateful for everything?” – Charlie Brown
- “Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
- “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” – Melody Beattie
- “Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” – William Faulkner
- “Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” – Hansa Proverb
- “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” – W. Clement Stone
- “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” – Randy Pausch
- “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” – Ernest Hemingway
- “Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” – Rumi
- “Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
- “For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile.” – Elie Wiesel
- “A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude.” – Bruce Wilkinson
- “The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” – William Blake
- “Thanksgiving day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” – E.P. Powell
- “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
- “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
- “Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.” – Charlotte Brontë
- “When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.” – Sam Lefkowitz
These Thanksgiving quotes encompass the true essence of the holiday, reminding us of the boundless power of gratitude and the warmth of togetherness. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or simply taking a moment of reflection, let these words of wisdom and humor fill your hearts with appreciation and joy.