"The white people, who are trying to make us over into
their image, they want us to be what they
call "assimilated," bringing the Indians into the
mainstream and destroying our own way of life and our own
cultural patterns. They believe we should be contented
like those whose concept of happiness is materialistic and greedy, which is very different from our way.
We want freedom from the white man rather than to be
integrated. We don't want any part of the
establishment, we want to be free to raise our children in
our religion, in our ways, to be able to hunt and fish
and live in peace. We don't want power, we don't want
to be congressmen, or bankers....we want to be
ourselves. We want to have our heritage, because we
are the owners of this land and because we belong here.
The white man says, there is freedom and justice for all.
We have had "freedom and justice," and that is
why we have been almost exterminated. We shall not forget this."
From the 1927 Grand Council of American Indian
People interested in contributing thoughts and ideas to help the betterment of mankind, and within our own cultures. All cultures are welcome to this site!
"LAKOTA PRAYER"
WAKAN TANKA ~ OH, GREAT MYSTERY
TEACH ME HOW TO TRUST MY HEART AND MIND,
AND TO LISTEN TO THE INTUITION OF MY SMALL VOICE WITHIN
TO TRUST THE SACRED SENSES OF MY BODY
AND THE BLESSINGS OF MY SPIRIT
PLEASE TEACH ME TO TRUST ALL THESE THINGS
AND TO BE STILL . . . AS THE AIR BEFORE THE DAWN
THAT I MIGHT ENTER MY SACRED SPACE
AND LEARN TO LOVE BEYOND MY FEAR
AND THUS, WALK IN THE BEAUTY WAY OF PEACE
WITH THE PASSING OF EACH SUN
The Youth Ride was something that we thought to post here since it is a very beneficial activity for the children. We thought it was a wonderful educational outing for those involved!
The sites mascot...meet Bugsy...she is a Maine Coon Cat