Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: A Guide to the Greetings to the Natural World

The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, known in the Kanienʼkéha language as Ohén:ton Kariwatehkwen, is a structured series of greetings that acknowledge and give thanks to the elements of the natural world. It is recited at the beginning of community gatherings, ceremonies, and everyday events to reaffirm responsibility to relatives both two‑legged and winged, as well as to plants, waters, and winds. This evergreen explainer presents the purpose of the address, outlines its sequential sections, lists representative phrases with approximate English meanings, and offers guidance for respectful, context‑appropriate use by visitors and allies. Notes on variation between Nations and the importance of guidance from Knowledge Keepers are included to emphasize that this is a living practice, not a generic scripted prayer.