Native American Wisdom

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.

John (Fire) Lame Deer
Sioux Lakota - 1903-1976


We do not want schools....
they will teach us to have churches.
We do not want churches....
they will teach us to quarrel about God.
We do not want to learn that.
We may quarrel with men sometimes
about things on this earth,
but we never quarrel about God.
We do not want to learn that.

Heinmot Tooyalaket ( Chief Joseph), Nez Perce Leader

www.sapphyr.net...

reply to post by pai mei


Depending on the culture Native Americans reacted to those who defied or violated their cultural traditions by: Exile, humiliation/peer isolation or death.

Attempts to make the inhabitants of the Americas into "noble savages" are 'nice' but distort the reality of the world they lived in. ALL less "civilized" cultures had good points, usually strong cultural traits that were attractive to outsiders. These traits could be found all over the world in those who lived pre-agricultural and even agricultural lifestyles.

For those interested in the beliefs and the words of the native american people here is a series of videos with elders speaking about our view and what is to come.


This is just the first of several.