Give a Gift
My family’s Thanksgiving gathering changed several years ago when my son’s partner, Gabi, who is Native American, asked if we could hold our festive family meal on the third Friday of November— Native American Heritage Day—instead of the traditional third Thursday. I did not struggle with this request; many in my family had already challenged the holiday’s traditional narrative, which overlooks the decimation and enslavement of the Narragansett and Wampanoag peoples—the Puritans’ neighbors upon their arrival on the Massachusetts shore.
Gabi and I wanted to create a new Thanksgiving tradi-tion that resonated for both of us—one that would also pay homage to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The food would remain the same, but I would need to come up with some new prayers!
At that time, I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a book that blends Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge to show how we can cultivate a grateful relationship with the Earth. In it, I learned about the Haudenosaunee, a confederacy of Indigenous nations in what is now the northeastern United States and Can-ada. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy (People of the Longhouse) is the self-designated name for what is often called the Iroquois Confederacy, a colonial-era term used by Europeans for this alliance of Indigenous nations. It comprises six nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora—the latter of which later joined from the Ohio Valley. They are united by an oral constitution referred to as the Great Law of Peace.
According to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, “The confederacy was founded by the prophet known as the Peacemaker with the help of Aiionwatha, more commonly known as Hiawatha. The exact date of the joining of the nations is unknown and said to be time immemorial[,] making it one of the first and longest lasting participa-tory democracies in the world. The confederacy . . . was intended as a way to unite the nations and create a peace-ful means of decision making. Through the confederacy, each of the nations of the Haudenosaunee are united by a common goal to live in harmony . . . . The Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s constitution is believed to be a model for the American Constitution. What makes it stand out as unique to other systems around the world is its blending of law and values. For the Haudenosaunee, law, society and na-ture are equal partners and each plays an important role.”
I was inspired by the Haudenosaunee “Thanksgiving Address, Greetings to the Natural World,” which has roots dating back more than 1,000 years. It fosters gratitude and interconnection to the natural world, our Earth, and our celestial bodies. Oren Lyons, the Onondaga Faithkeeper, maintains that these words “should come before all else, which is why the Address is recited at every gathering, whether political, cultural, or social.” He also emphasizes that it is meant to be shared with all people, regardless of their DNA, in the hope that we will find peace and harmo-ny with each other by recognizing our common roots in the mulch of this Earth.
I thought our family could agree on reciting the Address for our first Friday Thanksgiving. I broke up the prayer into laminated reading selections and passed them around the table for each of my 10 family members to recite before we dug into the feast. I wanted to create a lasting place and permanent pocket for these words of gratitude. I decided to hook representations of each section of the address us-ing designs that might resonate with my immediate family while also honoring the Haudenosaunee Peoples.
The Thanksgiving Address and collection of mats follow, with brief explanations of why I chose each partic-ular image. The mats were hooked with fine and wide-cut wool that I had on hand, and all are piped and backed with cloth from traditional weavers in Guatemala. Each mat has a pocket in the back to hold its portion of the Address.
HAUDENOSAUNEE THANKSGIVING ADDRESS, GREETINGS TO THE NATURAL WORLD
The People, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. This image honors my ninth great-grandmother, Elizabeth Weeks Williams, who immigrated from England with her husband Charles in the mid-1600s to create a new life in Massachusetts.
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, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. As a child, seeing images of our planet Earth from space revealed to me the miracle of life and filled me with wonder. The Haudenosaunee culture is dedicated to protecting the natural world for future generations.
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 greet-ings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Waters, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. This image was adapted from Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a woodblock print from 1831. To the Haudenosaunee, water is a sacred, living relative, serving as the “lifeblood” of the land.
The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and pro-viding us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms—waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.
Now our minds are one.
The Fish, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. This design is adapted from an Indian woodblock.
The Fish
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give them-selves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Plants, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. This design is adapted from a William Morris print and honors my husband, Howard, our Basket Farmer. For the Haudenosaunee, willow bark was a tradition-al pain reliever, and the whips were used in ceremonial dances and to make baskets and dream catchers.
The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
The Food Plants, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. This design is for my son Henry, aka Dr. Dirt, who grows Ohio Heritage Blue Corn here on the farm. This is a sacred s taple food of the Haudenosaunee, forming 80 percent of their traditional diet.
The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the gar-den. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Herbs, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Frai-oli, Roseville, Ohio. This mat depicts Cannabis sativa to honor all those who have served honorably in our military and who use this plant to mitigate the effects of PTSD. However, it is important to note that cannabis is not a traditional medicine for the Haudenosaunee, and in September of 2025, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council Chiefs issued a formal statement in opposition to the commercial culti-vation and sale of cannabis within their territory, arguing that it is not a traditional medicine and threatens the cultural foundations and health of their communities.
The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Rose-ville, Ohio. The Haudenosaunee recognize the “Great Turtle,” who carries the Earth on its back, as the foundation of their spiritual beliefs. The 13 large plates on this turtle’s back represent the 13 phases of the moon, and the 28 small plates represent the days in the lunar calendar.
The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one.
The Trees, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. The great white pine is known as the “Tree of Peace.” For the Haudenosaunee peoples, it symbolizes their strength, peace, and longevity.
The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.
The Birds, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. The eagle is a sacred symbol to the Haudeno-saunee and is often depicted on the great white pine tree. The eagle serves as a guardian that watches for danger, alerting the Confederacy to protect its unity and the Great Law of Peace.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds—from the smallest to the largest—we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. To the Haudenosaunee, the north wind (the Bear Wind) brings winter gales and cold, the east wind (the Moose Wind) brings fog and rain, the south wind (the Fawn Wind) brings gentle summer breezes, and the west wind (the Panther Wind) brings rain and storms.
The Four Winds
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.
The Thunderers, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. For the Haudenosaunee, the thunderbird is a vital protector as the rain nourishes the crops. In oral traditions, the Thunderers drive away the disruptive forces on earth with their lightning spears.
The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grand-fathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.
The Sun, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. In the oral traditions of the Haudenosaunee, there was a solar eclipse when Hiawatha and the Peacemaker united the five nations under the Great Law of Peace.
The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
Grandmother Moon, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. The Haudenosaunee lunar calendar has 13 moons, which are celebrated with ceremonial functions (song, dance, and prayer): the Maple Sugar Moon, Sucker Moon, Flower Moon, Strawberry Moon, Raspberry/Blueberry Moon, Green Corn Moon, Harvest Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Hunting Moon, Freezing Moon, Little Spirit Moon, Big Spirit Moon, and Broken Snowshoe Moon.
Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grand-mother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
The Stars, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. According to Haudenosaunee traditional beliefs, humans are made of stardust, flung from the cosmos to settle on Earth. Shooting stars are interpreted through the story of the “Seven Dancing Brothers” (associated with the Pleiades cluster), in which the youngest brother, homesick for Earth, falls back down. I hooked this shoot-ing star over the roof of the red barn where most of my hooking is done.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Enlightened Teachers, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. I chose Buddha as a nontheistic teacher to represent the various spiritual leanings of my family.
The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. I was stumped on what to hook for this one. The Haudenosaunee refer to the Creator as a “force” and not as a physical being. Haudenosaunee culture maintains its spirituality through “expressions of thanks for all we have and hope to have.” I was reminded of both Star Wars (“May the Force be with you”) and Star Trek (Mr. Spock and the Vulcan salute, “Live long and prosper”). I learned that the Vulcan salute was created by Leonard Nimoy, stemming from his own Orthodox Jewish upbringing. The split fingers represent the Hebrew letter “Shin.” Shin is the first letter in many important Hebrew words, such as “Shalom” (peace) and “Shabbat” (to rest). These words hold meaning in the spirituality of my household. In this mat, my hand is representing this letter with the understanding that my own spiritual force comes from within me—hence the use of the words “in you” rather than “with you.”
The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Moth-er Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
Closing Words, 9″ square, #3- to 8-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Maddy Fraioli, Roseville, Ohio. I chose to close the Address by hooking the Hiawatha wampum belt. It represents the Five Nations that first joined the Confederacy. The square on the far left rep-resents the Mohawk Nation, and the second square rep-resents the Oneida Nation. The middle symbol, typically a heart or the great tree, represents the Onondaga Nation and its loyalty to the Great Peace. The next square to the right represents the Cayuga Nation, and the last square on the right represents the Seneca Nation. The two lines extending out from each side represent the Path of Peace by which other nations (and this includes all of Earth’s peo-ples) are welcome to travel and find shelter.
Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
The underside of the box lid.
The handmade box used to store the mats.
The back sides of the mats.
A Place for Safekeeping
I padded the mats just enough to make them flattish, then finished them by hand sewing on bias binding and backing cloth.
I wanted to make a container for the mats and their sacred words. I wove strips of the backing fabric around a metal form and sewed embellishments to the top of the lid. Hanging from the edges of the lid are “jin-gles” fabricated from peeled chewing-tobac-co can lids. These jingles are used to adorn the dresses that Native American women wear for the ceremonial healing dance called “The Jingle Dress Dance,” performed at contemporary Pow Wows by all the Indige-nous Nations.
The sound the jingles make when the lid is lifted from the box reflects the celebratory and healing words inside the “treasure” box.
Greeting the natural world with the Haudenosaunee Address at our Thanksgiving gathering has given our family the opportunity to recite these words of gratitude for the spiritual longevity of ourselves and our planet. I dedicate these objects to my family, and to theirs, and to theirs. WLRH
This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was developed and published in 1993 by the Six Nations Indian Museum and The Tracking Project. Permission to re-print the address here in full was provided by David Benedict (Turtle Clan/Mohawk).
Maddy Fraioli maintains a studio practice in southeastern Ohio. She is a third-generation rug hooker and is McGown and Oxford certified. She has taught nationally and internationally for the past 24 years. She is an infrequent con-tributor to We Like Rug Hooking, usually on topics that speak to history, design, and cultural cloth as they relate to the rug-hooking arts. She is a founding member of the Buckeye Rug Hooking Guild and has served on its board in several capacities. She is a rug-braiding student and member of the Rug Braiders International.
Maddy Fraioli’s article on her Thanksgiving was wonderful and inspiring. Her rugs were beautiful and touching. They reminded me of all of the things we have to be grateful for in these troubling times.