We congratulate one another this day because we are still alive in this world.

Besides this act we give thanks to the Earth, and we give thanks also to all the things which it contains. Moreover, we give thanks also to the Visible Sky. We give thanks also to the Orb of Light that daily goes on its course during the daytime. We give our thanks nightly also to the Light Orb that pursues its course during the night.

So now, we give thanks also to those persons, the Thunderers, who bring the rains. Moreover, we give thanks also to the servants of the Master of Life, who protect and watch over us day by day and night by night.

And now, furthermore, we send our thanks also to his person, to the Finisher-of-our-lives. To him our thanksgiving we offer in fervent gratitude.

And now a ceremony shall begin, a ceremony which was given to us, to mankind, by the Finisher-of-our-bodies—namely, the ceremony of the Great Feather Dance.

So let everyone be enthusiastic, then, in this ceremony. We must enjoy ourselves as much as possible during this ceremony. It was given to us for the purpose of benefiting us in its performance in honor of him, the Master of Life, who gave it to us, and we must all do what is right and just one to another, and we also must continue to give thanks to the Master of Life for the good things which we enjoy at his hand.

So now will begin the singing of the songs of the Ritual of the Great Feather Dance. So let each and every one share in it, then. [At this point the singers on the song bench begin singing the songs of this ceremony. All who take part should be arrayed in festival attire. The faces of the dancers should be painted, and their heads should be adorned with feather headdresses. When this ceremony is ended the Master of Ceremonies, arising, makes the following statement:] [633]

“So now, moreover, in such an assembly of people as this is, another ceremony is about to begin, one other that the Finisher-of-our-lives has ordained for our performance. So, then, let us be thankful, moreover, that our lives and persons are still spared in the affairs of this world.

“So now, moreover, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks for the bounties it has received from the Master of Life.

“So now, moreover, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks. The Master of Life has willed that there be officers among the people whose duty it is to promote the celebration of the Six Ceremonies. So we give thanks, too, that you who are officials among the people are still spared your lives.

“So now, moreover, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks for the bounties it has received. He, the Master of Life, willed that there shall be certain persons among men who shall be called chiefs (because their renown is great), and that upon them, furthermore, shall rest the grave responsibility of promoting peace and health among the people, and also that upon them shall rest the responsibility of making addresses of thanksgiving at the celebrations of the Thanksgiving Ceremony, in which they shall direct their words to the Maker-and-finisher-of-our-lives, at the same time earnestly urging all persons to enjoy themselves there and to be happy.

“So now, moreover, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks. The Creator-of-our-lives willed that there shall be in life two varieties or kinds of life, one of which shall be called Female and the other shall be called Male. He willed that by this means mankind shall see the coming of humanity (through the birth of children). So, therefore, we give thanks that this ceremony or rite of the union of two kinds of life is going on, just as he decreed that mankind should live in pairs—male and female. So, therefore, we offer up thanks because we have our eyes on our offspring who are coming, differing in size, to us.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there be an earth continually. So let us give thanks that the processes of the earth go on in accordance with his rule, and that we human beings are traveling about over it.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be springs of water, and that there shall be waters that flow. So, too, we give thanks because there are waters that flow as ordained, and because there are springs of water likewise, which are for our comfort as we go to-and-fro over the earth.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed, too, that ‘I will bestow that on which they shall live—corn, and that it shall grow in its seasons.’ So then, [634]let us now give thanks because we have again set our eyes on all those things upon which we live. We are thankful that we again see all these things.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall continue to grow on the earth all manner of herbs, and, too, that these shall be for use as medicines, which shall be, each and every one, a succor and support to the people; they shall be for medicine.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall grow various kinds of flowers on the earth, and that among these shall grow continually strawberries. So, too, let us give thanks because these are for our pleasure and contentment.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall grow shrubs on the earth continually, and that all these shall be for medicines for mankind at all times. So, too, let us give thanks that these are giving us perfect satisfaction and comfort, and because these shrubs are our own aid and sustenance.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that other shrubs and trees in groves shall ever grow to maturity on which various fruits and berries shall ever hang in abundance. So, too, let us give thanks because these fruit-bearing shrubs and trees grow continually, giving us at all times abundantly contentment and pleasure.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be forests that shall continually reproduce themselves by growth, which shall continue to be at all times helpful to mankind, ‘whom I have placed on the earth.’ So, too, let us be thankful that our minds are contented for the reason that the forests grow.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that in the forests which shall continue to grow there shall live and increase all manner of game animals in utmost variety. So, too, let us give thanks for this bountiful provision, because in full measure and number the game animals are abundant in the growing forests, as intended by him, and they are ever the full means of giving us pleasure and contentment while we dwell on the earth.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be growing forests in which there shall be certain trees from which (maple) sap shall habitually fall in its season. So, too, let us give thanks because there still grow here and there maple trees, for we still can look upon maple sugar. [635]

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be brakes of great herbs on which shall grow sunflowers continually in their season, and that these shall serve to give pleasure and contentment to mankind dwelling on the earth.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed, ‘I shall place a duty on certain persons to care for and watch over the earth, and they shall cause rain to fall habitually, and the rain shall prosper all the things that grow out of the earth, and these persons shall habitually approach from the west, and people will call them Our Grandsires, whose voices are heard from place to place—the Thunderers.’

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall ever be a Sky, on which there shall ever appear a Light Orb which will go about from place to place as day succeeds day, and people shall call this orb of light the Sun. So, too, let us be thankful that we see each day that the light orb moves on in its course.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be darkness by periods of a certain length, and that in the sky there shall ever appear a Light Orb which shall ever go from place to place, and which human beings will call the Nocturnal Orb of Light—the Moon. So, too, let us be thankful because night after night we see this orb of light holding to its course, and know that our Creator so decreed it.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall ever be a Sky, and that in it there shall be Stars fixed from place to place. So, too, let us be thankful, because we see these stars night after night, just as our Creator has decreed that it shall be.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be Persons who shall guard mankind from harm by day and by night. So, too, let us be thankful that these Four Persons protect us daily and nightly.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks. He willed that just and righteous acts shall be the means of making us true men and women. So, too, let us be thankful because his words are being carried out on earth.

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that in thanksgiving addresses the celebrant must offer thanks to all things, beginning with these on earth and ending with the person of the Master of Life. So, too, let us be thankful that we have now rendered to our Maker our thanks for the bounties of life. [636]

“So now, too, this assembly of people, such as it is, is giving thanks this day. He willed that there shall be persons who shall have the ability to sing the songs of the Great Feather Dance, which were bestowed on us by our Creator. So now we thank you, Singers, who have this power and who have so well again performed your duty, a duty which is not an easy one.

“May all the people here enjoy peace and health until the time for the next celebration of this ceremony, which is fixed at a future day. Live, then, in peace and health. I end.”