This week, let us be especially thankful for the Indigenous Nations who inhabit this land.

"How do you inspire respect for something? By giving thanks, by doing it. We have to do that. We have to be thankful. Two things were told to us: to be thankful, so those are our ceremonies, ceremonies of thanksgiving. We built nations around it, and you can do that, too. And the other thing they said was enjoy life. That's a rule, a law - enjoy life - you're supposed to. I know you can only do as much as you can do and then when you do that, you're supposed to get outside and enjoy life. Don't take yourself so seriously."

Chief Oren Lyons,
Onondaga Nation

This week, let us be especially thankful for the indigenous nations who inhabit this land. Let us remember that it is they who - for  countless generations - have blessed the earth, air, fire and water of this land through their prayers and ceremonies, and through a continuous attitude of gratefulness. We STILL need those prayers and ceremonies if any of us are to survive the devastating onslaughts of the corporate-industrial system. Indigenous peoples have put up with a lot over the years, but - fortunately, for the sake of all of us - you are still here. May you and your families be blessed in a special way this week.

Photos: (Top) Sunset on Mills Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, November 21, 2014; (Middle) Rocky spires in the mist, with Limber Pines leaning over Emerald Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, November 24, 2014; (Bottom) Greyrock, Cottonwoods, and fields, Bellvue, CO, November 25, 2014