"The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of the forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the land that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers; he belongs just as the buffalo belongs... ---Luther Standing Bear (1868?-1939) Oglala Sioux chief
"If you talk to the animals they will talk
with you and you will know each other. If you
do not talk to them you will not know them
and what you do not know, you will fear. What
one fears, one destroys."
---Chief Dan
George
I hope the Great Heavenly Father, who will look down upon us, will give all the tribes His blessing, that we may go forth in peace, and live in peace all our days, and that He will look down upon our children and finally lift us far above the earth; and that our Heavenly Father will look upon our children as His children, that all the tribes may be His children, and as we shake hands to-day upon this broad plain, we may forever live in peace. ---Red Cloud [Marpiya-Luta] (late 19th century) Oglala Sioux chief
...everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence. ---Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket] (1888-1936) Salish
The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air. That is why you notice the hawk knows how to get his prey. The Indian is like that. The hawk swoops down on its prey; so does the Indian. In his lament he is like an animal. For instance, the coyote is sly; so is the Indian. The eagle is the same. That is why the Indian is always feathered up; he is a relative to the wings of the air. ---Black Elk (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux Holy Man
"I do not see a delegation for the Four
Footed. I see no seat for the Eagles.
We
forget and we consider ourselves superior.
But we are after all a mere part of
Creation. And we must consider to understand
where we are.
And we stand somewhere
between the mountain and the Ant.
Somewhere and only there as part and
parcel of the Creation."
---Chief Oren Lyons, Oneida
---From an
address to the Non-Governmental Organizations
of the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland,
1977
Children were encouraged to develop strict discipline and a high regard for sharing. When a girl picked her first berries and dug her first roots, they were given away to an elder so she would share her future success. When a child carried water for the home, an elder would give compliments, pretending to taste meat in water carried by a boy or berries in that of a girl. The child was encouraged not to be lazy and to grow straight like a sapling. ---Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket] (1888-1936) Salish
Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that, "thought comes before speech." ---Luther Standing Bear (1868?-1939) Oglala Sioux Chief
When a child my mother taught me the legends of our people; taught me of the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms. She also taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom, and protection. We never prayed against any person, but if we had aught against any individual we ourselves took vengeance. We were taught that Usen does not care for the petty quarrels of men." ---Geronimo [Goyathlay] (1829-1909) Chiracahua Apache chief
For an important marriage the chief precided,
aided by his wife. He passed a pipe around
the room so each could share a smoke in
common. In this way families were publicly
united to banish any past or future
disagreements and thus stood as "one united."
The chief then gave the couple an oration of
his advice, pointing out the good
characteristics of each, and then offered his
congratulations to them for a happy
future.
---Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket]
(1888-1936) Salish
"We are going by you without fighting if you
will let us, but we are going by you
anyhow!"
---Chief Joseph's warning to the
defenders of Fort Fizzle in Montana
Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars. We shall all be alike--brothers of one father and one another, with one sky above us and one country around us, and one governmnet for all. ---Joseph (Himnaton Yalatkit) (1830-1904) Nez Perce chief
Of all the animals the horse is the best friend of the Indian, for without it he could not go on long journeys. A horse is the Indian's most valuable piece of property. If an Indian wishes to gain something, he promises that if the horse will help him he will paint it with native dye, that all may see that help has come to him through the aid of his horse. ---Brave Buffalo (late 19th century) Teton Sioux medicine man
"It's our stuff. We made it and we know best how to use it and care for it. And now we're going to get it back."
----John Pretty on Top, Crow
The old Indian teaching was that is is wrong to tear loose from its place on the earth anything that may be growing there. It may be cut off, but it should not be uprooted. The trees and the grass have spirits. Whatever one of such growth may be destroyed by some good Indian, his act is done in sadness and with a prayer for forgiveness because of his necessities... ---Wooden Leg (late 19th century) Cheyenne
"The Great Spirit is in all things. He is in
the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our
Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She
nourishes us.....That which we put into the
ground she returns to us."
---Bedage
When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earch, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man. ---Chased-by-Bears (1843-1915) Santee-Yanktonai Sioux
"Soon there will come from the rising sun a different kind of man from any have yet seen, who will bring with them a book and will teach you everything."
----Spokan Prophet
"We shall live again; we shall live again."
----Comache Ghost Dance Song
The Earth is the Mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the river to run backward as that any man who was born a free man should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases. ---Joseph [Hinmaton Yalatkit] (1830-1904) Nez Perce chief
Perhaps you think the Creator sent you
here to dispose of us as you see fit....
If I thought you were sent by the Creator I might be induced to think you had a right to dispose of me.....
Do not misunderstand me...
But understand me fully with reference to my affection for the land....
I never said the land was mine to do with as I choose...
The one who has a right to dispose of it is the one who created it....
I claim a right to live on my land....
And accord you the priviledge to
return to yours......
Brother we have listened to your talk
Coming from the great White Chief
at Washington and my people have
called me to reply to you....
And in the winds which pass thru these
aged pines. We hear the moanings of their departed ghosts. And if the voice
of our people could have been heard, that act would never have been done. But alas though they stood around they could
neither be seen nor heard. Their tears fell like drops of rain.
I hear my voice in the depths of the forest, but no answering voice comes back to me, all is silent around me. My words must therefore be few... I can now say no more....."
----Chief Joseph
It is strictly believed and understood by the Sioux that a child is the greatest gift from Wakan Tanka, in response to many devout prayers, sacrifices, and promises. Therefore the child is considered "sent by Wakan Tanka," through some element--namely the element of human nature. ---Robert Higheagle (early 20th century) Teton Sioux
I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free, and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew a free breath...I know every stream and every wood between the Rio Grande and the Arkansas. I have hunted over that country. I lived like my fathers before me, and like them, I lived happily. ---Ten Bears [Parra-wa-samem] (late 19th century) Yamparethka Comanche chief
The idea of full dress for preparation for a battle comes not from a belief that it will add to the fighting ability. The preparation is for death, in case that should be the result of conflict. Every Indian wants to look his best when he goes to meet the great Spirit, so the dressing up is done whether in imminent danger is an oncoming battle or a sickness or injury at times of peace. ---Wooden Leg (late 19th century) Cheyenne
It was supposed that lost spirits were roving about everywhere in the invisible air, waiting for children to find them if they searched long and patiently enough...[The spirit] sang its spiritual song for the child to memorize and use when calling upon the spirit guardian as an adult. ---Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket] (1888-1936) Salish
These were the words given to my great-grandfather by the Master of Life: "At some time there shall come among you a stranger, speaking a language you do not understand. He will try to buy the land from you, but do not sell it; keep it for an inheritance to your children.
----Aseenewub, Red Lake Ojibwa
"My son, you are now flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone. By the ceremony performed this day, every drop of white blood was washed from your veins; you were taken into the Shawnee Nation...
----Balck Fish, Shawnee, recalling 1778 adoption of Daniel Boone into the tribe
A warrior who had more than he needed would
make a feast. He went around and invited the
old and needy....The man who would thank the
food--some worthy old medicine man or
warrior--said: "...look to the old, they are
worthy of old age; they have seen their days
and proven themselves. With the help of the
Great Spirit, they have attained a ripe old
age. At this age the old can predict or give
knowledge or wisdom, whatever it is; it is
so. At the end is a cane. You and your family
shall get to where the cane is."
---Black Elk (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux Holy
Man
When I am too old and feeble to follow my
sheep or cultivate my corn, I plan to sit in
the house, carve Katicina dolls, and tell my
nephews and nieces the story of my life...
Then I want to be buried in the Hopi way.
Perhaps my boy will dress me in the costume
of a Special Officer, place a few beads
around my neck, put a paho and some sacred
corn meal in my hand, and fasten inlaid
turquoise to my ears. If he wishes to put me
in a coffin, he may do even that, but he must
leave the lid unlocked, place food near by,
and set up a grave ladder so that I can climb
out. I shall hasten to my dear ones, but I
will return with good rains and dance as a
Katcina in the plaza with my ancestors...
---Don Talayesva (late 19th century) Hopi Sun
Clan chief
There is no death. Only a change of worlds.
---Seattle [Seatlh] (1786-1866) Suquamish
chief
Great Spirit, Great Spirit, my Grandfather,
all over the earth the faces of living things
are all alike...Look upon these faces of
children without number and with children in
their arms, that they may face the winds and
walk the good road to the day of the quiet.
---Black Elk (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux holy
man.
