“Today we get together to remind ourselves that we were given a responsibility to live in balance and harmony with one another and with all the living things of Mother Earth. We think of the people we met and the ones we haven’t met as yet. We remember that all of the people who live on every part of Mother Earth are all connected, related and bound together in the same circle of life. So we bring our minds together as one. As we pile high our greetings, express our love and give thanks to all of the people here and everywhere on Mother Earth.

“Now our minds are as one.”

—Haudenosaunee Prayer by Mohawk storyteller Kay Olan