50.) Corbett Sundown's Thanksgiving chant, describing the role of the Haudenosaunee Faithkeepers, as transcribed by the Smithsonian Institute, bulletin 183 (5 min. read)
The Faithkeepers
And now we are expressing our gratitude; that this is all we can do. And now this is what the Creator intended, when he finished the creation of the earth. He decided, "I shall have helpers who will be persons among those who move about on the earth. It will be there responsibility to get up the ceremonies, the Four Rituals, the ceremonies I laid down for myself." That is what he intended. And those who are the moiety partners who are called Faithkeepers. It continues unchanged, they are standing there by the pole set up for the Creator. Indeed, they are carrying out their responsibility. When the ceremonies are due, they decide that it is the proper time. And then they get up whatever ceremony it is, announcing that a ceremony is indicated. And indeed, those who are called Faithkeepers have been getting up the ceremonies. It must also be so: the trees are of equal height among the moiety partners who are called Faithkeepers. And there will be consent shown toward the Faithkeepers by those depended on them, those who are called the ones with no assigned responsibility. They all work together as one when they deliberate. They decide when the time comes, according to the Creator arrange the sequence of ceremonies. And it is true: this is the manner in which it continues to operate. They are carrying out the responsibility that was assigned to them. Up to the present time, too, this is their responsibility. And therefore let there be gratitude that it still continues unchanged, operating as he planned it. And the entire group is thankful, as many people as remain. It continues unchanged. The moiety partners who are called Faithkeepers are still standing there at the pole set up for him. And now we ask only this: that it will continue in the same manner for the period of another year.