One Sky Above Us
Unity, Individuality and Custom
...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself.
Lone Man (Isna La-Wica) (late 19th century) Teton Sioux
All birds, even those of the same species, are not alike, and it is the same with animals and with human beings. The reason Wakan-Tanka does not make two birds, or animals, or human beings exactly alike is because each is placed here by Wakan-Tanka to be an independent individuality and to rely upon itself.
Shooter (late 19th century) Teton Sioux
Among the Indians there have been no written laws. Customs handed down from generation to generation have been the only laws to guide them. Everyone 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 Nations censure acted as a mighty ban binding all in one social, honorable compact.
George Copway (Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh) (1818-1863) Objiwa Chief
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 matter. 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
To "make medicine" is to engage upon a special period of fasting, thanksgiving, prayer and self denial, even of self-torture. The procedure is entirely a devotional exercise. The purpose is to subdue the passions of the flesh and to improve the spiritual self. The bodily abstinence and the mental concentration upon lofty thoughts cleanses the body and the soul and puts them into or keeps them in health. Then the individual mind gets closer toward conformity with the mind of the Great Medicine above us.
Wooden Leg (late 19th century) Cheyenne
When a child my mother taught me the legends of our people; taught me of the sun and the sky, the moon and the 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 ought 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) Chiricahua Apache Chief
We are black, yet if we cut ourselves, the blood will be red - and so would the whites it is the same, though their skin be white....I am of another Nation, when I speak you do not understand me. When you speak I do not understand you.
Spokan Garry (1811-1892) Middle Spokane Chief
For an important marriage the Chief presided, aided by his wife. He passed the 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 he offered his congratulations to them for a happy future.
Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket) (1888-1936) Salish
Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars. We shall be alike - brothers of one Father and one Mother, with one sky above us and one country around us, and one government for all.
Joseph (Hinmaton Yalatkit) (1830-1904) Nez Perce Chief
The sound is fading away
It is of five sounds
Freedom
The sound is fading away
It is of five sounds
Chippewa Song