The Power of the Haudenosaunee “Words Before All Else”

Composed in about 1050 CE, the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, or “Words Before All Else”, united five warring American Indian tribes, and served as the inspiration for both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. For Americans, it as a new orientation to being human, as it describes the Haudenosaunee relationship to the natural world, whose principles are generally accepted and shared by all North American Native people. Reflected in the mural, this ancient document is still aspirational and deeply moving for us today in 2024. Workshop participants will learn about the history of the address and discuss its context to their personal lives and movements. Each presenter will then demonstrate the social dancing that is customary for their nation in celebration like this one.

The Climate Justice Initiative is a collaboration between front-line organizers, activists, and artists, convened by Mural Arts Philadelphia. We use the power of public art to tell stories about the causes, effects, and solutions to the climate crisis in Lenapehoking (the greater Philadelphia region). Learn more at www.climatejusticeinitiative.com/collaborators