I am thankful for the gift of being a mother.  I am thankful for every bite of food.  I am thankful for the American Indians who cared for this beautiful place for over 10,000 years.

I had the great gift of finding a copy of the book, Indian Lore, by E.W. Lamb and L.W. Shultz, two instructors in Indiana schools.  Wendell Lamb grew up around the Miami tribe in Peru, Indiana.  This book shows of his respect for them and the Indian ways.  It is written without being demeaning or condescending.

It is a great piece that gives a lot of information for such a small book.  In it, there are maps of the tribes inhabiting Indiana before the European invasion, Indian names for English, picture writing, and sign language, illustrated by Chief Long Lance.

I found this prayer that is used at the end of a gathering and thought about Thanksgiving —

“May the Great Spirit–   (two fingers in V shape in motion in air)

“Be in your heart— (right hand over heart)

“As He has been in the past — (right thumb over right shoulder)

“As He is now — (both arms extended sideways)

“So may He always be with you on the long trail ahead”  (right index finger pointing upward and ahead).

Amen.