Since Father’s Day is coming we gathered some Native wisdom that was traditionallyhanded down from father to sons in the past on Religion, Tradition and Being.Happy Father’s Day.
Luther Standing Bear ( 168?-1939), Oglala Sioux Chief:
“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 hand 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 belonged…”
Red Cloud (Makhipiya-Luta) (late 19th century), Oglala Sioux Chief:
“… 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 this 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.”
Geronimo (Goyathlay) (1829-1909), Chiricahua Apache Chief:
“We had no churches, no religious organization, no Sabbath days, no holidays, and yet we worshiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would assemble and sing and pray: sometimes a smaller number, perhaps only two or three. The songs had a few words, but were not formal. The singer would occasionally put in such words as he wished instead of the usual tone sound.
“Sometimes we prayed in silence; sometimes each prayed aloud; sometimes an aged person prayed for all of us. At other times one would rise and speak to us of our duties to each other and to Usen. Our services were short.”
Big Thunder (Bedagi) (late 19th century), Wabanaki Algonquin:
“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 ….”
Black Elk (1863-1950), Oglala Sioux holy man:
“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.”
Red Cloud (Makhipiya-luta) (late 19th century), Sioux Chief:
“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.” Luther Standing Bear (1868-1939), Oglala Sioux Chief:
“Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom — an intense andabsorbing love for nature; a respect for life; enriching faith in a Supreme Power;and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide tomundane relations.”
