"Being Indian is mainly in your heart. It's a way of walking with the earth instead of upon it. A lot of the history books talk about us Indians in the past tense, but we don't plan on going anywhere... We have lost so much, but the thing that holds us together is that we all belong to and are protectors of the earth; that's the reason for us being here.  Mother Earth is not a resource, she is an heirloom."
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David Ipinia, Yurok Artist, Sacramento, CA

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     The Earth was created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as it was. The country was made with no lines of demarcation, and it's no man's business to divide it. I see the whites all over the country gaining wealth, and I see the desire to give us lands which are worthless.  The Earth and myself are of one mind. Perhaps you think the Creator sent you here to dispose of us as you see fit. If I thought you were sent by the creator, I might he induced to think you had a right to dispose of me.  Do not misunderstand me; but understand me fully with reference to my affection for the land.  I never said the land was mine to do with as I choose.  The one who has a right to dispose of it is the one who created it.  I claim a right to live on my land, and accord you the privilege to return to yours.  Brother, we have listened to your talk coming from our father, the Great White Chief in Washington, and my people have called upon me to reply to you.  The winds which pass through these aged pines we hear the moaning of departed ghosts, and if the voice of our people could have been heard, that act would never have been done.  But alas though they stood around they could neither be seen nor heard.   Their tears fell like drops of rain.  I hear my voice in the depths of the forest but no answering voice comes back to me.   All is silent around me.   My words must therefore be few.  I can now say no more.   He is silent for he has nothing to answer when the sun goes down.

Thunder Rolling in the Mountains-Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

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     Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers.  They told us to treat all men as they treated us.  That we should never be the first to break a bargain. That it was a disgrace to tell a lie.  That we should speak only the truth. We were taught to believe that the Great Spirit sees and hears everything and that he never forgets.  This I believe and all my people believe the same.

Thunder Rolling in the Mountains-Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

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     Wars are fought to see who owns the land, but in the end it possesses man.Who dares say he owns it- is he not buried beneath it?

Cochise, Chiricahua Apache

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     When you are a person who belongs to a community, you have to know who you are.  You have to know who your relatives are, and as a tribe we have to know where we came from.

Charlotte Black Elk, Oglala Sioux

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     Marriage among my people was like traveling in a canoe. The man sat in front and paddled the canoe. The woman sat in the stern but she steered.

Anonymous

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     "A Nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground.  Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors nor how strong its weapons.

Cheyenne

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     Have patience.  All things change in due time.   Wishing cannot bring autumn glory or cause winter to cease.

Ginaly-li, Cherokee

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     Lose your temper and you lose a friend; lie and you lose yourself.

Hopi

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