We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is a beautifully written book by Native American, Traci Sorrel.
Members of the Cherokee Nation use the word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) to express gratitude. The book begins in the fall and follows a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences ending in summer. This book won many awards, including a Sibert and Boston Globe Horn Book Award Honors.
There are many beautiful word choices throughout the book. Here are two phrases that really spoke to me:
“…burnt cedar’s scent drifts upward during the Great New Moon Ceremony…”
“While we collect buckbrush and honeysuckle to weave baskets to remember our ancestors who suffered hardship and loss on the Trail of Tears.”
Years ago, when I was studying for my Masters in English, I enrolled in a Native American studies course, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I was introduced to many new and amazing Native American authors. My great-great grandmother was a Canadian Indian, First Nations. Her tribe is called Secwépemc (also known as Shuswap). These people reside in the interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. They speak one of the Salishan languages, known as Secwepemctsín or Shuswap. My mother was so proud of her ancestry, as I am.
For one of my prompts in Teacher Write (four years ago), we were asked to use Traci’s book as a template. I wrote this based on our first granddaughter, who was born in 2018. At that time, we had four grandsons, and we were overjoyed to welcome a granddaughter into this world. This is my attempt at writing about gratitude in a year’s time, as Traci did.
We Are Grateful
When new life is placed in your arms and names run through your head, we thank God.
…as our ancestors nod, cousins smile, grandparents cry, and lilac’s sweet scent drifts through the air at the Blessing Ceremony.
…as we clean the house, wear our church best, enjoy a celebration meal, and forget past hurts and quarrels.
…while we each take turns holding the new infant, each hypothesizing who she looks like most…
…and have hope as Auntie cradles the newest babe of the family and smiles because the Auntie’s name is now part of the new babe.
As she sleeps deep and summer arrives, the baby fattens, and the sun beams, we thank God.
…when we watch the stars and wade in the creek camping next to the cool mountains.
…as we sink our teeth into the juicy watermelon during the Fourth of July fireworks…
…while we scramble to chase a baseball that Grandpa hit over in right field.
…when we recall our forefather’s sacrifices to preserve our way of life, her future life.
When fall leaves fill the sidewalks and a cool breeze blows, we thank God.
While baby girl sits up and her wide eyes look all around her, we gather the last of the pumpkins and squash.
…and we practice patience as baby’s first tooth tears through, her first cold, and sleepless nights.
…as we hold hands around the sumptuous feast, younger ones fight over the wishbone, and mom’s sweet-smelling rolls remind us not to argue with each other.
…as we embrace our nephew back from Iraq, serving our country.
As the toddler sleeps and snow envelopes the ground, we thank God.
While great Uncle shares stories we savor hot chocolate and cinnamon toast and this is when we create caramel corn and Christmas cards.
…As older brother teaches younger sis to sing eency weency spider, and play cars.
While we gather to remember our Savior’s birth as dad cuddles the newest member of our family and we sing traditional Christmas carols, especially Rudolf the Red Nosed reindeer.
Every day, every season, we thank God.
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What are you grateful for this year? Reflect and grab your favorite children's book or poet and use their template for your next writing exercise.
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