Indigenous Peoples Day: 10 Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders

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Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders

Here in America, this is a day many take time to recognize Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, what many forget to say is that Columbus didn’t discover America, he invaded it.

I was speaking to my little niece who is in 5th grade the other week and she was telling me about a paper she is writing about the immigrants of this country. I asked her what immigrants she was referring to and her response was, “The pioneers and settlers of this country Uncle J.J..”

This response from this young queen reminded me of the lack of truth filling our history books. I asked her, “what about the people who were already here, the Native Americans?”

I asked her if her teacher mentioned that these immigrants brought with them African people as slaves to help them sail across the sea and develop this land.

Then I asked her, “what was the difference from these immigrants to the supposed illegal immigrants many are saying don’t belong in America today?”

I didn’t expect an answer from her, instead I was grateful to open her mind to look beyond the tilted history books that highlight the dominance of the European culture, and help her recognize the infinitely deep history of the African and Native American people.

Honoring this powerful truth, I’d like to share 10 Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders. Happy Indigenous People’s Day.  

10 Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders

#1 – Everywhere is the center of the world.Everything is sacred. -Black Elk

Black Elk


#2 – May the sun bring you new energy by day.

May the moon softly restore you by night.

May the rain wash away your worries.

May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

-Apache Blessing


#3 – Flowers do not force their way with great strife.

Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun. . . .

Don’t be in a hurry about spiritual matters.

Go step by step, and be very sure.

-White Eagle

Flowers do not force their way with great strife.Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun. . . .Don't be in a hurry about spiritual matters.Go step by step, and be very sure.


#4 – 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 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, Oglala Lakota Sioux


#5 – When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

-Cree Prophecy

Cree


#6 – In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

-Iroquois Maxim


#7 – A frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.

-American Indian proverb

frog


#8 – The ground on which we stand is sacred ground. It is the dust and blood of our ancestors.

-Chief Plenty Coups, Crow

Plenty


#9 – O’ GREAT SPIRIT,

Whose voice I hear in the winds,

And whose breath gives life to all the world,

hear me! I am small and weak, I need your

strength and wisdom.

Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make My Hands Respect the things you have

made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand the

things you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my

brother, but to fight my greatest

enemy…myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you with

clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,

my spirit may come to you

without shame.

-Translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark


#10 – When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre.

-Cheeseekau, Shawnee

When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre.


Indigenous People’s Day and Beyond….

Choose one of these powerful insights from the Native Americans and apply it to your daily life.

If you are in America, look at the soil beneath you and honor the Natives who walked upon it before you. Judge not, find love, forgiveness, compassion and move forth in Peace.

Peace

Happiness

Compassion

Respect

 

Jeffon Seely

 

Three Key Life

Indigenous Peoples Day:10 Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders Photo Credit: Unsplash

Indigenous Peoples Day: 10 Powerful Insights From Native American Chiefs, Elders and Leaders
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