We, as Ongwehowe, 'the Real People', share a spiritual relationship with the natural world embedded in a respect for all aspects of life. We are interrelated and are given the duty of protecting, preserving, conserving, and restoring our environment. We refer to the earth as our Mother and hope that all human beings respect and walk softly while they are visitors here.

The desecration of Mother Earth by hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, has become a great concern among the Haudenosaunee. The-devastation to all that we give thanks for in our Thanksgiving address - the earth, the air, the water, the animals, plants and the people, all that encompass Mother Earth, are threatened. Our duty to support, protect, and sustain the gifts of Creation becomes a greater challenge, yet we fight for the benefit of our future generations- our children, our grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and those not yet born among us.