I have this little book called 'Native American Wisdom' published by Running Press. It is full of photographs taken by Edward S Curtis in the early 1900's, of First Nation people. With the photos are sayings and quotations from them which reveal a wisdom that comes from their affinity with the earth and nature. Here are some of my favourite quotes:

"You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round... The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in it's greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours... Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves."
Black Elk (1863- 1950) Oglala Sioux holy man.


"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 to do 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."
Red Cloud (late 19th Cent.) Sioux Chief.

"I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and it's meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe...was infusing into his being the true essence of civilisation."
Luther Standing Bear (1868-1939) Oglala Sioux Chief.

"Hear me, four quarters of the world, a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds."
Black Elk, (1863-1950) Oglala Sioux Holy Man.

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