49.) Corbett Sundown's Thanksgiving chant, describing the role of Haudenosaunee Chiefs, as transcribed by the Smithsonian Institute, bulletin 183. (5 min. read)
The Chiefs.
And now we people have gathered. This is what our Creator decided: "they will simply continue to be grateful, those who move about on the earth". And he decided, "they will be responsible for looking after the security of those who move about on the earth. And it will also be there responsibility to roll into one the minds of the people". All that he gave them was good. "They will continue to look after the happiness of the people". That is what he did. And it continues unchanged up to the present. It continues unchanged. They are standing there, the moiety partners who are called Chiefs. They have indeed carried out their responsibility. At all times they look after the happiness of the old people as well as of the children, and those yet unborn. And indeed they also do the talking whenever people gather. They roll into one, as far as they are able, the minds of the people. They keep providing for their happiness. And this is what the Creator decided: "It will continue to be their responsibility to help the moiety partners who are called Faithkeepers. The Faithkeepers will whisper to them whatever is on his mind. The Chiefs are there. It will be the Chiefs responsibility to speak in public." And indeed we know that the form of the ceremonies continues unchanged. The Chiefs keep the whole thing straight, as the Four Rituals are performed. And indeed it continues unchanged; the whole things goes as he intended it. And now indeed again there is thanks for those who are called Chiefs who remain. And now we ask this: that it will in the same manner; that they might still remain for another year.