Treat all men as though they were your relatives. - Navajo
The woman is sacred. We respect our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, grandaughters and nieces. Women are the ones who give us life, who nurture us, and who teach us to walk and to speak. Men are their eyes, their ears and their mouths. - Birgil Kills Straight
For us, warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another's life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity. - Sitting Bull
The only thing necessary for tranquility in the world is that every child grows up happy. - Dan George
Peace is not only the opposite of war, it is not only the time inbetween wars....Peace is more. It is the Law of life. It is when we conduct ourselves righteously and between every single being, justice reigns. - Iroquois
As you go through life, act in a way as not to deprive others of happiness. Avoid giving sorrow to your fellow man, but to the contrary, see that you give him joy as often as you can. - Sioux
Great Spirit, save me from judging a man until I have walked a mile in his moccasins. - Apache
Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men, we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents. Without a prison, there can be no delinquents. We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves. When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift. We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property. We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth. We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians, therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another. We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society. - Lame Deer
Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. - Cree
When the white man discovered this country Indians were running it. No taxes no debt, women did all the work. White man thought he could improve on a system like this. - Cherokee
Treat the earth well, It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you be your children. - Native American
Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of the little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to themmany things which older people miss. - Black Elk
A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky. - Crazy Horse
When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre. - Shawnee
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
There is no death. Only a change of worlds. - Chief Seattle
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. - Chief Seattle
Man has responsibility, not power. - Native American
. . . I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love. - Red Cloud
Trouble no more about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. - Chief Tecumseh
. . 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
Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well being of mind and body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions. - Chief White Cloud
Native American isn't blood. It is what is in the heart. The love for the land, the respect for it, those who inhabit it, and the respect and acknowledgement of the spirits and elders. That is what it is to be Indian. - Navajo
Our land is everything to us. . . I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember that our grandfathers paid for it—with their lives. -Cheyenne
. . . I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself. - Lone Man
What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. - Blackfoot
Among the Indians there have been no written laws. Customs handed down from generation to generation have been the only 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 band, binding all in one social, honorable compact. - Ojibwa
How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right. - Sauk
We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees. - Nuxalk
When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home. - Mohican
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace.....Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The Earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.......Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade....where I choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself, and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty. - Nez Perce
I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows. We are poor..but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die...we die defending our rights. - Sioux
Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book? - Senaca
I will follow the white man's trail. I will make him my friend, but I will not bend my back to his burdens. I will be cunning as a coyote. I will ask him to help me understand his ways, then I will prepare the way for my children, and their children. The Great Spirit has shown me - a day will come when they will outrun the white man in his own shoes. - Many Horses
It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. - Apache
It does not require many words to speak the truth. - Chief Joseph
We know our lands have now become more valuable. The white people think we do not know their value; but we know that the land is everlasting, and the few goods we receive for it are soon worn out and gone. - Canassatego
He was so narrow-minded he could see through a keyhole with two eyes. - Black Elk
Continuous effort--not strength or intelligence--is the key to unlocking our potential. - Black Elk
Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones. - Senaca
Let him that would move the world, first move himself. - Senaca
Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben
Indians are plenty smart. We catch small wood. Build small fire. Stand close and stay warm all over. White men not so smart. They catch big wood. Build big fire. Stand far away, burn face and freeze rear. - Henry Seely
Civilization has been thrust upon me... and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity. - Luther Standing Bear
One does not sell the land upon which people walk. - Chief Crazy Horse
Always, always, always show respect. From the youngest to the oldest, from the rocks to the trees, from all animals to all peoples. - Native American
When a woman's heart is on the ground, a Nation falls. - Lakota
Lose your temper and you lose a friend; lie and you lose yourself. - Hopi
We are all related. - Cherokee
We who are clay blended by the Master Potter, come from the kiln of Creation in many hues. How can people say one skin is colored, when each has its own coloration? What should it matter that one bowl is dark and the other pale, if each is of good design and serves its purpose well. - Polingaysi Qoyawayma, Hopi
There is no such thing as 'part-Cherokee.' Either you're Cherokee or you're not. It isn't the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that is important, but the quality of it . . . your pride in it. I have seen full-bloods who have virtually no idea of the great legacy entrusted to their care. Yet, I have seen people with as little as 1/500th blood quantum who inspire the spirits of their ancestors because they make being Cherokee a proud part of a their everyday life. - Jim Pell, Principal Chief of the North Alabama Cherokee Tribe
My face is a mask I order to say nothing
About the fragile feelings hiding in my soul. - Mohawk
We who are clay blended by the Master Potter, come from the kiln of Creation in many hues. How can people say one skin is colored, when each has its own coloration? What should it matter that one bowl is dark and the other pale, if each is of good design and serves its purpose well. - Hopi
Native American-red meat that bites back. - Daniel
