The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-20

uttered, and know because they
are spoken softly as we'll as
earnestly, that they addressed to Those
Above, whom we call The Almighty.
"Kwa XVII, kwa XVII" is what the Hopi says:
thanks thanks!" And in these words he ex-
presses one of the most characteristic of In
dian customs, that of giving thanks on every
occasion and no matter how slight the pretext
We may smile at the thought of utterng
thanks Tor the presence of a visitor that his
health Is good; if a child who has fallen and
hurt itself slightly, begin to smile again; if
rain comes-for any or all of the small matters
which fill every day. Yet we, who pride our
selves on our manners, and who are prompt to
acknowledge the slightest favor from fellow
human, cannot help but admire the etiquette
which calls for acknowledgment to God also;
and when we realize that all these seemingly
slight events are beyond the unaided power of
man to bring about we feel that we have been
ungrateful to take much for granted without
bothering to acknowledge the source.
Not content with unending thankfulness the
Indians also said grace, sometimes both before
and after meals. To the words of the little
prayer were added an Offering of food, which
cast into the fire as the grace was spoken.
Receive, oh source OF my ancestry, and eat"
said the Zuni as he performed the rite spirit,
partake!" murmured the Dakota woman, and
her husband echoed the whispered prayer and
offering of gratitude.
In the Pueblo land, no cooking was undertake
en- without an offering. pinch Of meal pre-
ceded the bread into the oven; a bit Of each
sort of food was placed in the fire. with
thought Of thanksgiving for past and future,
before meals. The smallest children had their
hands guided in this little ceremony, for the
spirit of gratitude to Those Above for every
thing, and for food above all, was strong in ev-
cry Indian heart. Clothing they could skimp,
q olxa Al a.
life itself depended food, and they were
grateful for it.
1t is strange how nearly the grace before
meals Of white men and red coincide. Both ex-
press thanks, the white man by words the In
dian by his offering of food well. and both
ask blessings to come Zuni grace
follows:
Makers of the trails of lives and We
spirits of ancestors, Of this add We unto
your hearts after the of your
knowledge, and bless with fruitful seasons.
needed water, and age Of life.''
1t must have been a very lovely world In
which the ancient red men lived. There were
all the beauties of untouched nature to behold;
there were tasks to keep the hands busy, and
prayers to occupy the heart and mind. The
Navajo prayer:
Make beautiful all that is before me.
Make beautiful all that is behind me.
1t is done in beauty"
was answered daily to all the tribes and out Of
this serene beauty of their Earth Mother there
grew very strong religion, the essence of
which thanksgiving
There is beautiful Tewa ceremony which
occurs about harvest-tme-that of giving the
perfect seeds in charge and allowing the Earth
Mother to rest for while. The finest seeds of
all sorts are searched out by the Kossa, sum-
mer priesthood, and few of each kind
sanctifed, guarded, and planted about ten days
before the rest of the crop is put in In the
fall the perfect seeds of these selected plants
are gathered, and at the conclusion of a feast
Of thanksgiving, the Kossa give them to the
Quarrano, a winter priesthood to guard until
the next planting time.
At this time out Of gratitude to the Earth
Mother strong medicine is made that she may
sleep after all her toll. All spring and summer
she has given of her flesh In all forms of ma
ture to her children. Surely she is tired and
needs to rest. The feasting is done, the next
years seeds laid by. and now comes period
in which the grateful Indian people keep quiet.
making noise that that beloved Mother may
sleep. No loud talking is allowed in Tewa
towns and every noise is -hushed, until she has
had her rest. Here is true thanksgiving-primi-
tive naturally. but sincere and expressed In
terms of humankind.
The dances and ceremonies which preceded
various feasts were something like enlarge
ment of the grace before meals Harvestt time
meant happiness, and it also brought with it the
obligation Of giving thanks, so by combining the
celebrations with rites, the Indian enjoyed both
and did not neglect either. There is little
Cherokee tale which illustrates the custom Of
celebrating before feasting:
Seven wolves went out hunting and caught
fat grounding. Their prey, considering that
with presence of mind there might be a chance
for absence of body, reminded them that peo-
pie always danced for gratitude when they had
something good to eat, giving the Green Corn
dance as an example. He urged the wolves to
do likewise. and offered to teach them steps and
to sing for them. The wolves although they
were very hungry eagerly agreed to hold this
dance of thanksgiving, and during their celebra-