The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
You might as well expect the rivers 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 Yalarkit) (1830-1904)
***
Hear me, four quarters of the world -- a relative I am!
Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is!
Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand,
that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds.
Black Elk (1863-1950)
***
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) Chircahua Apache 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
