The American Indian is of the soil,

whether it be the region of forests, plains or mesas.

He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned

the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings.

He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers;

he belongs as the buffalo belonged.....

~ Chief Luther Standing Bear ~

Oglala Sioux

(1868 - 1939)

Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom ~

an intense and absorbing love for nature; a respect for life;

enriching faith in a Supreme Power; and principles of truth, honesty,

generosity, equity and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.

~ Chief Luther Standing Bear ~

Oglala Sioux

(1868 - 1939)

I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground

in his tipi, meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship

of all creatures, and acknowleding unity with the universe of things

was infusing into his being the true essence of civilisation.

~ Chief Luther Standing Bear ~

Oglala Sioux

(1868 - 1939)

After all the great religions have been preached and expounded,

or have been revealed by brilliant scholars, or have been written

in fine books and embellished in fine language with fine covers,

~ all man ~ is still confronted with The Great Mystery.

~ Chief Luther Standing Bear ~

Oglala Sioux

(1868 - 1939)