In “Allegiance to Gratitude,” Robin Wall Kimmerer shares ideas that deepen our understanding of Native American culture and beliefs. Writing in first-person POV, Kimmerer centers the text around the “Thanksgiving Address” and how we should be grateful for all that was made on earth. She begins by talking about her morning ritual and then explains how she got a call from her daughter's school saying her daughter refused to stand with the class during the Pledge of Allegiance. According to Kimmerer, “The idea of asking children to pledge loyalty to a political system seems exceedingly curious.”
Kimmerer explores how diverse Native American cultures are united by a shared foundation of gratitude. Some schools might start with the Pledge of Allegiance, but at her daughter's school, they start with the “Thanksgiving Address,” or, in the words of the Onondaga language, “The Words That Come Before All Else.” This is a protocol that sets gratitude as the highest priority. Gratitude is for those who all share their gifts with the world and provide for us. During the ritual, students begin with their feet grounded, connecting with the Earth as they express gratitude to all elements of the natural world. Kimmerer explains that the students start to say the Address in their language almost every day of their lives.
She includes parts of the address and points out that we all have to live in harmony with one another and all living creatures. Each one of us has a duty to balance and provide for all, and for that, we give greetings and thanks to all in nature that has done their duty. As Kimmerer observes, "Now our minds are one together,” meaning we are all united together and have a duty to uphold one another.
Furthermore, Kimmerer also gives thanks to Mother Earth, stating that she gives us life, supports our feet, gives us joy, and cares for us from the beginning of time. Kimmerer says, “To our mother, we give thanksgiving, love, and respect. Now our minds are one.” The author repeats the verse “ Now our minds are one”“ to reveal how all the world's living humans and creatures are all one or united together. The author then goes on to say that the pledge has no place here within the Address. She talks about how people mistake the Address to be viewed as prayer, which is not the case. Onondaga teaches that the address is far from the pledge, prayer, or poem but words to give gratitude and thanks to all that was made by the natural world.
Additionally, Kimmerer gives thanks to all the waters of the world and how they provide strength and show us its different forms, such as rivers, oceans, and rain. She then tells us that the water is important for our lives and their meeting their responsibility to the rest of Creation. Kimmerer again repeated the verse “Bring our minds together as one and give thanks to the water.“ Now our minds are one. In every address given, Kimmerer ends the words with “Now our minds are one.” She keeps saying this verse at the end because we need to be grateful and hear what the author says about all that is provided for us.
She continues with The Address, giving thanks to fish, plants, and berries. She goes in depth telling us their duty or role and starts to get curious within the texts, saying, “I wonder if they are kids who are like my daughter who refuse to stand and say thank you to the earth.” The author asserts this because she feels as if people feel like they don't need to say “thank you to the earth.” Kimmerer keeps going with the address, giving thanks to the food plants, 3 Sisters, and the medicine herbs. She explains how the food plants helped people survive, the Three Sisters nourished them with grains and beans, and the medicine herbs were gifted to heal sickness.
Kimmerer comments that each part of creation is thanked for fulfilling its creator's duty to others in life and that everything we need to sustain life is already here. All we have to do is respect it for all of its creation. The Thanksgiving Address reminds us that we have so much in life and to be grateful for it while giving thanks. Kimmerer continues to thank all the birds and the Four Winds, saying strawberries are the leader of the berries and eagles are the leaders of birds. Kimmer notes this because leadership is the root of gratitude. We have to remember also that the Thanksgiving Address is not towards one thing; the address is meant for all of life itself.
Once again, the author adds thanks to Grandmother Moon, telling us how she provides for us, and thanks to a high night sky. She says, “Let's gather our thanks for Grandmother Moon together in a pile, layer upon layer of gratitude,” and she ends with, “Now our minds are one.” With Kimmerer's points and how she ends with now, our minds are one," I do agree with that verse because it shows us how we share the same understanding or common ground with life itself by how all the creatures have their duty, just like us, to provide which we give thanks, respect, and love to all that was made. The Address tells us how we are in unity together; for example, when the author says, "We gather our minds together as one and send our greetings and thank”s. This is important because people need to have the same understanding of why people say the Thanksgiving Address to give thanks to all and how it signifies a moment of connection where differences are set aside.
Another point Kimmerer emphasizes is that our relationship with the earth and its creations is not based on a political structure but on reciprocity and care. She explains that each human or not has a bond to every other reciprocity relationship. Kimmerer explains that just like all beings have a duty, we have a duty to them too, and in return, we have a duty to support its life, and we are responsible for returning a gift in kind. According to Robin, the Thanksgiving Address is to remind us that the duties and gifts are on two sides of the same coin, and each one has a gift, as the eagles were given the gift of far sight so they have to watch over us, and the rain is given the gift to sustain life. She then gets curious about the texts and asks, what is the duty of humans? And what is our gift? Kimmerer answers this by saying, “It is said that only humans have the capacity for gratitude.”
Kimmerer's final point is that the Thanksgiving Address is a mutual allegiance with human delegates to the democracy of species. She explains that if we want our people to be patriotic, then let us love this country by invoking the land and loyalty. This focuses on giving thanks to the land and the people who sustain us. The author goes on to talk about leaders and how we need to remind children of the eagle and birds to show them how to grow as good citizens and teach reciprocity. She is trying to urge people to recognize the gifts of nature and the contributions that were made for us and life. By embracing gratitude, we are more reciprocal and have a respectful relationship with the world around us, giving thanks or appreciation for what sustains us rather than showing loyalty for symbols like the Pledge of Allegiance.
Kimmerer ends the Thanksgiving Address by saying thanks to all that wasn't mentioned.
“We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it is not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their way. And now our minds are one.”
In Robin Wall Kimmerer's reflection on the “Thanksgiving Address,” I find myself moved by her perspective on gratitude and allegiance. Kimmerer begins by recounting a personal experience that sparked her exploration into this traditional Native American ritual. Her daughter’s refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school led Kimmerer to question the value of pledging loyalty to a political system when compared to the gratitude in the “Thanksgiving Address.”
I agree with Kimmerer’s emphasis on the idea that gratitude for the natural world and its gifts is of the Address. Each morning, students express thanks to various elements of creation, such as earth, water, plants, and animals, and recognize their roles and responsibilities. This ritual isn’t merely ceremonial; it embodies respect for the earth and its inhabitants. When she quotes the Address, saying, “Now our minds are one,” I notice the unity and shared responsibility.
The recurring phrase “Now our minds are one” resonates with me, symbolizing a collective consciousness that aligns with Robin's vision of mutual respect and balance. She underscores that the Thanksgiving Address isn’t a prayer or poem but a living practice of gratitude through her words. My perspective on this is how I can contribute to the balance and harmony that the Address advocates.
In closing, Robin's reiteration of thanks to all that has been named and to the unnamed reinforces the idea that our gratitude should be all-encompassing and inclusive. This perspective leaves me contemplating how I can have a deeper sense of gratitude and responsibility in my daily life, aligning with the spirit of the Thanksgiving Address. Reading this has shown me that true allegiance lies not in political symbols, but in expressing gratitude to the Earth and all that sustains life. It reminds me to honor the natural world with respect and appreciation.
Kimmerer blends the knowledge with Indigenous wisdom, highlighting gratitude and a respectful relationship with the environment. This idea inspires me to reflect on my connections to nature and the importance of acknowledging and giving back to the Earth.
The structure for this piece is like a story from the beginning, which uses imagery within the texts. I structure this reflection by starting at the beginning and showing how the author goes into these ideas about appreciation and gratitude towards nature. These details relate to the piece by showing how the author is starting from the beginning and showing how she thanks all who have done their duty.
Some challenges I faced in writing this piece were trying to keep the piece structured and to make sure it sounded right or having to keep on writing without getting stuck. I overcome this by editing this reflection or reading it twice to make sure it sounds right. What I learned from this piece is how we all can show or give gratitude to nature as it gives back to us. I would like to develop this piece by stating what all she gives thanks to.