Chief Jake Swamp and the Thanksgiving Address
In a world that often feels rushed and distracted, Chief Jake Swamp of the Wolf Clan of the Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation invited people everywhere to pause—and to remember their deep relationship with the Earth.
Born in 1941 in the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, Chief Jake Swamp served on the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs. He was an environmental teacher and the founder of the Tree of Peace Society. For decades, he traveled the world planting peace trees and sharing a message of balance, respect, and gratitude.
One of his most enduring teachings came through the Thanksgiving Address, also known as The Words That Come Before All Else—a reminder to begin every gathering and every day with gratitude for all life.
Wilderness Youth Project & Chief Jake Swamp
Chief Swamp dedicated his life to planting peace trees and symbolically burying weapons beneath them. One such tree was planted at UC Santa Barbara in 1985. We at Wilderness Youth Project were honored to learn both the Peacemaker Story and the Thanksgiving Address directly from him, and we continue to carry those teachings forward today.
In 2024, we planted our own Tree of Peace near WYP headquarters. After careful consideration, we chose a spot on the grounds of the Riviera Business Park where the tree could thrive for generations to come. The tree is an Italian Stone Pine—an evergreen that can live for over a century—symbolizing lasting peace and hope.
We were joined in spirit by Chief Swamp’s daughter, Leona Swamp, who fully supported our planting. Leona continues her father’s legacy through her work at Aseshate:ka'te Grief Services. If you visit our office, see if you can spot this sweet little pine growing near our van parking area.
Giving Sweetness: Donate Today
This season, we invite you to join us in giving thanks, giving back, and spreading the message of gratitude.
The Thanksgiving Address teaches gratitude, reciprocity, respect, and balance—values that are woven into everything we do at Wilderness Youth Project. These values come alive each day in our programs with children, helping them build meaningful relationships with nature and community.
Inspired by Chief Jake Swamp’s message of gratitude and reciprocity, we are offering a small act of generosity: With each donation made through this page, you’ll receive a jar of Monterey County raw wildflower honey (while supplies last*), generously donated by a WYP staff member for this project.
Just like the sweet messages of gratitude, honey is gathered through quiet, collective work. It is a symbol of sweetness, community, and connection.
We invite you to pass it on—share your jar and Chief Swamp’s message of thanksgiving with friends and family. Together, we can spread sweetness, gratitude, and peace throughout our community.
*Limited availability! Only 50 jars of honey are available for local pick-up only.
What Is the Thanksgiving Address?
Among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, every gathering—whether a council, ceremony, or meal—traditionally begins with words of thanks. These words remind people of the deep web of relationships that sustain all life.
The Thanksgiving Address is not a prayer to a single deity, but a collective expression of gratitude to every part of creation: from the people gathered, to Mother Earth, to the waters, animals, winds, and stars. After each section, the people affirm together:
“Now our minds are one.”
This repetition weaves the community into harmony, aligning hearts and minds with the rhythms of the natural world.
At the closing of the gathering, whoever brought our minds together would present the gratitude once more and then separate our minds to go on our way.
Book Reading By Jake Swamp with his voice:
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message is a children's picture book by Chief Jake Swamp. This version of the Iroquois Thanksgiving Address or Ganohonyohk is written especially for children who want to know more about Six Nations Iroquois spirituality.
An Excerpt from Chief Jake Swamp’s Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
“To be a human being is an honor, and we offer thanksgiving for all the gifts of life.
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 with 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.
We give thanks to our Mother Earth, who gives us everything we need for life.
To the waters that quench our thirst and carry our canoes.
To the plants and animals who share their lives so we may live.
To the sun, moon, and stars who light our way.
And to the Creator, for the gift of all these things.
Now our minds are one.”
(Excerpt adapted from “Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message,” by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup Jr., 1995.)
Why It Matters Today
Chief Jake Swamp often said that the Thanksgiving Address is more than words—it’s a way of life. It teaches gratitude as a daily practice and invites us to recognize the living relationships that make our existence possible.
In a time when climate change and disconnection weigh heavily on many, these words offer a timeless remedy: humility, awareness, and respect. Each time we speak them—or even pause to notice the wind, the water, the birds—we renew our relationship with the Earth.
A Living Message
Chief Jake Swamp’s legacy continues through his family, the Tree of Peace Society, and the countless people he inspired. The Thanksgiving Address reminds us that gratitude isn’t reserved for one day a year—it’s a way to greet every morning.
What are you feeling thankful for today?
References & Further Reading
- Swamp, Jake (Tekaronianeken). Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message. Illustrated by Erwin Printup Jr., Lee & Low Books, 1995.
— The children’s book written by Chief Jake Swamp that shares an adaptation of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. - Kawenni:io / Gaweniyo Private School (Mohawk & Cayuga Immersion School). Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen — The Words That Come Before All Else.
— Traditional versions and educational resources on the Thanksgiving Address from Haudenosaunee language teachers. - Haudenosaunee Confederacy Official Site.
https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com
— Official site of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, with teachings on the Great Law of Peace, the Peacemaker, and the Thanksgiving Address. - National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian). “Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World.”
https://americanindian.si.edu
— Educational publication featuring versions of the Thanksgiving Address and contextual information. - Danforth, L. M. “The Words That Come Before All Else: Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.”
In Native American Spiritual Traditions, Chelsea House Publishers, 2005.
— Scholarly overview of the cultural and spiritual importance of the Address. - Center for World Indigenous Studies. “The Great Law of Peace and the Thanksgiving Address.”
https://www.cwis.org
— Contextual background on Haudenosaunee governance and the spiritual foundations of gratitude and peace.