Native American Wisdom

January 02
I love a people who have always made me welcome to the best they had...who
are honest without laws, who have no jails and no poor houses...who never take
the name of God in vain...who worship God without a bible, and I believe God loves
them also...who are free from religious animosities...who have never raised a hand
against me, or stolen my property, where there is no law to punish either...who
never fought a battle with white men except on their own ground...and oh, how I
love a people who don't live for the love of money!
George Catlin (an American non-Native artist of the 1830's)

January 03
We never did the white man any harm; we don't intend to...we are willing to be
friends with the white man...(to General Winfield Scott Hancock March 1867)
Hotoakhihoois (Tall Bull)


Did you know?
The term "crossing over" is common among Native people today to refer to those who
died or who are dying.

January 04
Kindness is to use one's will to guard one's speech and conduct so as not to injure anyone.
Oral traditional teaching of the Omaha



On this date in Native American history :
January 04, 1975 : The Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act was
passed by congress to encourage the development of tribal educational services.
[*]

January 05
The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of that love.
Hunkesni (Sitting Bull) (1831-1890)
Hunkpapa Sioux




A Native to know :
Handsome Lake, half brother of Cornplanter, was a spiritual prophet who stressed the importance of
traditional religious ceremonies and preached a message that would later be known as the
"The Code of Handsome Lake." His spiritual messages were heard by many Iroquois people, who
traveled for miles to hear him speak. Even after his death in 1815, his teachings continue through
his followers and are now known as the Longhouse Religion.

January 6
Often in the stillness of the night when all nature seems asleep about me there comes a gentle
rapping at the door of my heart. I open it and a voice inquires, "Pokagon, what of your people?
What will their future be?" My answer is : "Mortal man has not the power to draw aside the veil
of unborn time to tell the future of his race. That gift belongs of the Divine alone. But it is given to
him to closely judge the future by the present, and the past."
Simon Pokagon (1830-1899)
Potawatomi

January 7
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

Did you know?
"Alaska is a Native word that means "the great country."

January 8
It is well to be good to women in the strength of our manhood because we must sit under their hands at both ends of our lives."
He Dog
Oglala Sioux


Did you know?
Beloved Woman is an important community figure among the Cherokee people. The wise woman
bestowed this role acts as a one-woman legal counsel and judicial authority over all members of
her tribe. Her word is law and all people must abide.

January 9
Civilization has been thrust upon me...and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.
Luther Standing Bear (1868-1937)
Oglala SIoux

January 10
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, thy which we put into the
ground she returns to is...
Bedagi (Big Thunder)
Wabanakí Algonquin 1900's



Did you know?
The Talking Feather is a communication devise used by various tribes to ensure a
person's right to speak without interruption from others. The leader of the meeting
would first hold the Talking Feather, and then pass it around the room or give it to
those who requested a turn. The feather typically held a special meaning to that
particular tribe, and it would be decorated with distinctive colors and symbols. In other
tribal communities, a Talking Stick would be used in the same manner.

January 11
I have already agreed to be there and that is the same as of I gave you my head and my heart...I won't try to take back what I have said. I will do as I told you o would.
Western Apache tribal member

January 12
Honor the sacred. Honor the Earth - our Mother. Honor the Elders. Honor all with
whom we share the Earth : Four legged, to legged, winged ones, swimmers, crawlers,
plant and rock people. Wall in balance and beauty.
Anonymous Native American elder


Did you know?
For many Native American tribes, certain colors hold specific meanings. For example,
to the Cherokee, red and black are two Cardinal Colors worn at many ceremonies and
dances. Red represents the east, amd black the west. White is for south, while blue
symbolizes north.

January 13
Among the Indians there have been no written
laws. Customs handed down from generation to
generation ha e only been the laws to guide them.
Every one might act different from what was
considered right, did he choose to do so, but such
acts would bring upon him the censure of the Nation...
This fear of the nation's censure acted as a mighty hand,
binding all in one social, honorable compact.
George Copway (1818-1863)
Ojibway Chief

January 14
Why do you take by force what you could obtain by love?
Wahunsonacock (Powhatan) (1547-1622)
Powhatan

January 15
Let us put our minds together and see what life will make for our children.
Sitting Bull (Hunkesni) (1831-1890)
Hunkpapa Sioux


A Native to know : Sitting Bull, known as Tatanka-Iyo-tanka by
his people, was a Hunkpapa Sioux holy man and follower of the
Ghost Dance Religion who united his people and fought for
survival on the northern plains. His courage was legendary and
his tribal convictions made him a beloved amd well-respected
Native leader.

January 16
I hope the Great Heavenly Father, who will look down upon us, will give all the tribes His blessing, that
we go forth in peace and live in peace all l our days, and that he will look down upon our children and
finally lift us far above his 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 today upon this broad plain, we
may forever live in peace.
Red Cloud (Makhpiya-Lutta)
Oglala Sioux Chief (late 19th century)

lightsun wrote:

January 14
Why do you take by force what you could obtain by love?
Wahunsonacock (Powhatan) (1547-1622)
Powhatan

to him who had that much wisdom, then, with all the love that's leftovers by now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7godc6EEnMg&feature=rec-rev-rn-6r-4-HM

\!!

January 17
I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us.
Geronimo (Goyathlay) (1829-1909)
Apache Medicine Man and War Chief


I remembrance :
Of Mangas Coloradas, Apache chief, who died on this date in 1863.

January 18
We will bury the tomahawk in the earth.
Sauk Adam Meant as a pledge of peace.



On this date in Native American history :
January 18 : The Peace Preservation Act was passed. .

January 19
We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on our reservation. At times we did not get
enough top eat and we were not allowed to hunt. All we wanted was peace and to be left
alone...I was not allowed to remain quiet. I was tired of fighting...I have spoken.
Crazy Horse (on his deathbed 1877)
Oglala Sioux

lightsun wrote:

January 19
We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on our reservation. At times we did not get
enough top eat and we were not allowed to hunt. All we wanted was peace and to be left
alone...I was not allowed to remain quiet. I was tired of fighting...I have spoken.
Crazy Horse (on his deathbed 1877)
Oglala Sioux

in humility before such majesty..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOBxJPbOZjs&feature=related
\!!

lightsun wrote:

January 19
We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on our reservation. At times we did not get
enough top eat and we were not allowed to hunt. All we wanted was peace and to be left
alone...I was not allowed to remain quiet. I was tired of fighting...I have spoken.
Crazy Horse (on his deathbed 1877)
Oglala Sioux

words .... taking into deep meditation
or rather finding them.. there

in the tears
in the cracks left in communal fabrics
when someone dies
gets a final commemoration
using the words
"eternal hunting grounds"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise

That was beautiful. Recently a loved one has passed away to the happy hunting grounds.
So this was very fitting.

lightsun:

paradise has been pushed or postponed until "after" death. physical death.

but paradise has been for the living, with no death at all..

and no separation whatsoever called "sin".

lavender I also personally have a problem with the
word "sin." For some this terminology resonates with them.
I personally do not like the Christian statement that we are
all sinners. Going to hell. I believe we are ignorant and that
we can continually learn. I believe in self actualization. That
is the bottom line.

My mother used to say that sin was simply separation from God. Some of this would then be unavoidable, since humans are not God and are inherently imperfect, but much more comes from disregard for God and what he wants. In a broader sense, one might say sin is nothing more than our failure to live up to our potential, turning our back on our gifts, on the opportunities we have to make the world a better place. I can accept the idea of sin defined in this way, but I prefer more direct terminology that does not require such mental gymnastics to reinterpret. In most contexts, the term sin is dogmatic and downright hurtful.