INDIAN WISDOM
When you arise in the morning,
give thanks for the morning light,
for your life and strength.
Give thanks for your food
and the joy of living.
If you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies in yourself.
Tecumseh
My words are tied in one
with the great mountains,
with the great rocks,
with the great trees,
in one with my body
and my heart.
Do you all help me
with supernatural power,
and you, Day
and you, Night!
All of you see me
one with this world!
Yokuts indian prayer
Teach your children
what we have taught our children -
that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
If man spit upon the ground,
they spit upon themselves.
This we know.
The earth does not belong to us,
we belong to the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected
like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
We did not weave the web of life,
we are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web,
we do to ourselves ....
Chief Seattle