Words Before All Else: Understanding the Mohawk Thanksgiving Address

By Thomas Taronhata Stacey

Discover the deeper meaning of gratitude through Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) and Haudenosaunee wisdom. Words Before All Else introduces readers to the Thanksgiving Address and its enduring teachings about gratitude, relationship, reciprocity, responsibility, the natural world, and the Good Mind.

Written in a warm and accessible style, Thomas Taronhata Stacey invites readers to explore a worldview in which giving thanks is more than an expression—it is a way of recognizing our relationships with the Earth, waters, plants, animals, community, and future generations.

Throughout the book, readers will discover meaningful reflections and practical Daily Wisdom Practices that encourage gratitude, mindful living, respect for nature, and personal responsibility.

Ideal for readers interested in Indigenous wisdom, Mohawk culture, Haudenosaunee teachings, Native American history, gratitude practices, nature-based wisdom, and personal growth.

Words Before All Else is an invitation to reflect, give thanks, live with the Good Mind, and consider what we can give back to the world that sustains us.