100 Native American Quotes To Honor Indigenous Legacy

Echoing via the ages to this current second, the voices of Native American folks and Native American quotes resonate with timeless information and perception. From the revered elders of the previous to the rising technology of right now, these quotes function a bridge throughout generations, inviting everybody to attach with a shared human expertise rooted in respect, resilience, and unity. As an educator with Native American heritage, I share these Native American quotes to honor and convey ahead the knowledge and power of our ancestors for all to be taught from and be impressed by. These Native American quotes remind us of our duty to honor this legacy as we face right now’s challenges and transfer ahead collectively towards a extra simply, equitable, and compassionate world.

Native American Quotes Honoring Mom Earth

Humanity is forgetting that the whole lot has a proper to exist on this Mom Earth! —Steven Blue Horse, Sicangu Lakota, private communication with the writer

We should defend the forests for our kids, grandchildren and kids but to be born. We should defend the forests for many who can’t communicate for themselves such because the birds, animals, fish and timber. —Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation

The elders have been clever. They know that man’s coronary heart, away from nature, turns into laborious; they knew that lack of respect for rising, dwelling issues quickly led to a scarcity of respect for people too. —Chief Luther Standing Bear, Lakota Sioux

The bottom on which we stand is sacred floor. It’s the blood of our ancestors. —Chief A lot Coups, Crow Nation

Our connection to the pure world is a mirrored image of our internal selves. Allow us to domesticate love and respect for each. —Sacheen Littlefeather, Apache

The Nice Spirit is in all issues. He’s within the air we breathe. The Nice Spirit is our Father, however the Earth is our Mom. She nourishes us. … That which we put into the bottom she returns to us. —Huge Thunder Wabanaki, Algonquin

I don’t know the right way to save the world. I don’t have the solutions or The Reply. I maintain no secret information as to the right way to repair the errors of generations previous and current. I solely know that with out compassion and respect for all of Earth’s inhabitants, none of us will survive—nor will we should. —Leonard Peltier, Lakota / Dakota / Anishinaabe

We should transcend the vanity of human rights. We should transcend the ignorance of civil rights. We should step into the fact of pure rights as a result of all the pure world has a proper to existence and we’re solely a small a part of it. There could be no trade-off. —John Trudell, Santee Dakota

Everyone is so distracted by issues for the self. They don’t care about their family anymore. The SUV reveals how we really feel in regards to the atmosphere. To show this round, we have to return to the earth and stay with the earth spiritually. —Floyd Crimson Crow Westerman, Sisseton Dakota

The American Indian is of the soil, whether or not or not it’s the area of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He suits into the panorama, for the hand that customary the continent additionally customary the person for his environment. He as soon as grew as naturally because the wild sunflowers; he belongs simply because the buffalo belonged. —Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief

We have been created to deal with, steward the land. That’s mankind’s goal on earth, to steward and deal with the land because it feeds off of it. —Wes Studi, Cherokee Nation

I used to be warmed by the solar, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the timber as different Indian babes. I can go in every single place with a great feeling. —Geronimo, Chiricahua Apache

Humankind has not woven the online of life. We’re however one thread inside it. No matter we do to the online, we do to ourselves. All issues are certain collectively. All issues join. —Chief Seattle, Duwamish

In the event you speak to the animals, they’ll speak with you and you’ll know one another. If you don’t speak to them, you’ll not know them, and what you have no idea, you’ll worry. What one fears, one destroys. —Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation

The land is sacred. These phrases are on the core of our being. The land is our mom, the rivers our blood. Take our land away and we die. That’s, the Indian in us dies. —Mary Courageous Fowl, Lakota

Our land is the whole lot to us. … I’ll let you know one of many issues we bear in mind on our land. We keep in mind that our grandfathers paid for it—with their lives. —John Wood Leg, Cheyenne

The previous Indian instructing was that it’s fallacious to tear free from its place on the earth something that could be rising there. It might be reduce off, but it surely shouldn’t be uprooted. The timber and the grass have spirits. No matter considered one of such development could also be destroyed by some good Indian, his act is completed in unhappiness and with a prayer for forgiveness due to his requirements. —Wood Leg, (late nineteenth century) Cheyenne

Native Individuals have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial. We look after these precious assets to maintain life now and sooner or later. —Darnella Melancon, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe (AZ/CA), private communication with the writer

The Holy Land is in every single place. —Black Elk, Oglala Sioux

Mom Earth, upon your physique I stroll in magnificence, and in every single place I am going, happiness will probably be with me. —Michael Bercier, Anishinaabe, private communication with the writer

My grandpa all the time jogged my memory to “have a look at the mountains to know ‘right here you might be, so that you’ll by no means be misplaced.’” His means of claiming that individuals and indicators might change over time, however typically the mountains keep put! I observe this right now. His identify was Manuel Enis. My identify is Dwayne Pierce and I’m Tohono O’odham/Cayuse. —Private communication with the writer

Introspective Native American Quotes

While you simply be your self, you set one thing lovely on the earth that wasn’t there earlier than. —“Edwin Elliot” Mario Sanchez, Tejon Tribe, Yowlumne Yokuts, private communication with the writer

Warrior up! —LyDall Yazzie, WarDance Reside, Diné

All thunder of the mouth, no lighting within the hand. —Craig Hackett, Lakota & Coahuiltecan, private communication with the writer

You have to communicate straight in order that your phrases might go as daylight into our hearts. —Cochise, Apache

If you end up unsure, be nonetheless, and wait; when doubt not exists for you, then go ahead with braveness. As long as mists envelop you, be nonetheless; be nonetheless till the daylight pours via and dispels the mists because it certainly will. Then act with braveness. —Chief White Eagle, Ponca

We should keep in mind that our actions right now will form the world that our kids inherit tomorrow. —Sacheen Littlefeather, Apache

True power lies within the capability to embrace vulnerability and be taught from our errors. —Sacheen Littlefeather, Apache

No voice is simply too small to make a distinction. Communicate up, communicate out, and be heard. —Sacheen Littlefeather, Apache

Youngsters have been inspired to develop strict self-discipline and a excessive regard for sharing. When a woman picked her first berries and dug her first roots, they got away to an elder so she would share her future success. When a baby carried water for the house, an elder would give compliments, pretending to style meat in water carried by a boy or berries in that of a woman. The kid was inspired to not be lazy and to develop straight like a sapling. —Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket, 1888-1936), Salish

That is for each little rez child, each little city child, each little Native child on the market who has a dream. —Lily Gladstone, Piegan Blackfeet, Nez Perce

Life is harmful. Dwelling is difficult. It doesn’t get simpler. In actual fact, it will get more durable. But it surely will get extra value it. That’s a tough lesson to be taught, however hopefully, additionally, you will be taught to understand the nice while you discover it. —Jordan Kai Kor Eleccion, Wapetonwon Tarahumara, private communication with the writer 

The teachings we be taught each day are a present to us people and provides us the information of what could be loved or the information of what we should always by no means educate to anybody we meet in life. —Martan Martinez, Wappo / Pomo, private communication with the writer

The sweetness in life is, every day is a brand new day to strive once more and be a greater model of myself than yesterday. —Aurora Mamea, Blackfeet, private communication with the writer 

By no means be ashamed for being you (Native American) since you have been the prayer and hope your ancestors had. —Trevor S. Foster, non secular chief, Diné / Blackfeet / Cree

Maintain on to what’s good. Even when it’s a handful of earth. Maintain on to what you imagine. Even when it’s a tree that stands by itself. Maintain on to what you have to do. Even when it’s a good distance from right here. Maintain on to your life. Even when it’s simpler to let go. Maintain on to my hand. Even when sometime I’ll be gone away from you. —Crowfoot, Blackfeet warrior and orator, 1830-1890

We’re not Indians and we’re not Native Individuals. We’re older than each ideas. We’re the folks, we’re the human beings. —John Trudell, Santee Dakota

It’s a must to look deeper, means beneath the anger, the harm, the hate, the jealousy, the self-pity, means down deeper the place the desires lie, son. Discover your dream. It’s the pursuit of the dream that heals you. —Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota

The last word is to not win, however to achieve throughout the depths of your capabilities and to compete towards your self to the best extent doable. While you try this, you’ve gotten dignity. You’ve got the pleasure. You possibly can stroll about with character and pleasure regardless of in what place you occur to complete. —Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota

Folks make an enormous mistake once they say, “I have to be motivated.” You encourage your self. I’d encourage any person, however that individual needs to be motivated inside themselves first. Look inside your self, imagine in your self, put within the laborious work, and your desires will unfold. —Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota

God has given me the power. The remainder is as much as me. Consider. Consider. Consider. —Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota

It doesn’t require many phrases to talk the reality. —Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Native American Quotes Concerning the Motion

We aren’t victims. We come from a dwelling tradition that’s thriving as we heal, rebuild connections, and assist each other to stand up! —Dan Nanamkin, Colville / Nez Perce, private communication with the writer

If we don’t educate our native language and customs to our kids, there’s an expiration date on our very existence. —Charles Larrabee, Cheyenne River Sioux, private communication with the writer

Getting previous doesn’t make you clever. Generally you’re simply previous LOL. —James BearChild, Blackfeet & Navajo, private communication with the writer

Honoring our heritage is important not just for celebrating the wealthy historical past and our tradition and communities but in addition for the well-being of future generations. By understanding and respecting the traditions, we pave the way in which for therapeutic, resilience, and a greater future for all of our folks. —James BearChild, Blackfeet & Navajo, private communication with the writer

We are available all colours and shades, so don’t make assumptions. Ask me about my story. —Dr. Kenneth Wallace Jr., African American, Choctaw, Pawnee, private communication with the writer

Working towards our tradition, being with household and group, is what retains us related—to our ancestors, to the earth, to all creatures, and to our Creator. That is the inspiration of who we’re. —Orena Flores, Quechan / Mohave / Maricopa, private communication with the writer

That is our land. It isn’t a bit of pemmican to be reduce off and given in little items again to us. It’s ours and we’ll take what we would like. —Chief Poundmaker, Cree 

Just one factor’s sadder than remembering you have been as soon as free, and that’s forgetting you have been as soon as free. —Leonard Peltier, Dakota / Lakota / Anishinaabe

All I attempt to do is painting Indians as we’re, in inventive methods. With creativeness and poetry. I feel lots of Native American literature is caught in a single concept: kind of non secular, environmentalist Indians. And I wish to painting on a regular basis lives. I feel by doing that, by portraying the abnormal lives of Indians, maybe folks be taught one thing new. —Sherman Alexie, Spokane & Coeur d’Alene

Humor is extensively utilized by Indians to take care of life. Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed on the horrors of historical past, on the persevering with impression of colonization. … Actually the time-frame we presently inhabit has a lot that’s shabby and tough to supply; and far that must be handled with laughter and ironic humor. —Dennis Banks, Anishinaabe

Our tradition is our power and reclaiming it’s a highly effective act of resistance. —Dennis Banks, Anishinaabe

After we communicate with love, fact, and respect, we will make a distinction on the earth. —Dennis Banks, Anishinaabe

It takes a robust effort on the a part of every American Indian to not turn out to be Europeanized. The power for this effort can solely come from the normal methods, the normal values that our elders retain. —Russell Means, Oglala Lakota

Being is a non secular proposition. Gaining is a cloth act. Historically, American Indians have all the time tried to be the perfect folks they may. A part of that non secular course of was and is to present away wealth, to discard wealth so as to not acquire. —Russell Means, Oglala Lakota

Younger folks and Indian folks must know that we existed within the twentieth century. We have to know who our heroes are and to know what we’ve completed and achieved on this century apart from what Olympic athletes Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills have completed. —Russell Means, Oglala Lakota

I bought into performing via my political involvement, via a way of justice. I needed to see issues change, to offset a few of the lies which were advised about us all through historical past. —Tantoo Cardinal, Cree & Métis

“Dances With Wolves” actually began the motion, utilizing subtitles for Lakota Sioux and exhibiting Indians as fascinating, complicated folks—not simply the enemy—and giving lots of unknown Indian actors work. —Wes Studi, Cherokee Nation

Each human being is a raindrop. And when sufficient of the raindrops turn out to be clear and coherent, they then turn out to be the ability of the storm. —John Trudell, Santee Dakota

We the folks must work collectively as an alternative of performing just like the colonizers that took our lands and tried to strip us of our non secular beliefs. The colonizers did their greatest to create genocide. As a substitute of serving to each other, folks have allowed greed to take over and all they see is $$$ for themselves as an alternative of seeing how we may help one another as our folks as soon as did. Nobody went hungry, not one tribal member went with out. We have to work collectively once more and cease all this hatred. Nobody is best than anybody else. We’re all Creators’ youngsters. —Carmen Saldivar aka Eagle Coronary heart Lady, Mescalero Apache, private communication with the writer

Respect your elders, deal with them and concentrate once they communicate. They’ve lived a life you’ll by no means expertise, however the knowledge they’ve applies to your life now. —Carol Pipiu Sullivan, Alaska Native, Yup’ik & Inupiaq Inuit, private communication with the writer

We’re nonetheless right here as a result of our ancestors secured a means for our future. Who am I to not safe the way in which for our kids’s futures? —Amber Daybreak Cantu, Colville Confederated Tribes Sixth-generation direct descendant, private communication with the writer 

I don’t assume the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, however quite how nicely its folks have discovered to narrate to their atmosphere and fellow man. —Solar Bear, Chippewa

I ought to by no means have surrendered. I ought to have fought till I used to be the final man alive. —Geronimo, Chiricahua Apache

I’ve been in an important many councils, however I’m no wiser. We’re all sprung from a girl, though we’re not like in lots of issues. We cannot be revamped once more. You’re as you have been made, and as you have been made you may stay. We’re simply as we have been made by the Nice Spirit, and you can’t change us; then why ought to youngsters of 1 mom and one father quarrel?—why ought to one attempt to cheat the opposite? I don’t imagine that the Nice Spirit Chief gave one type of males the proper to inform one other type of males what they have to do. —Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Somebody wants to clarify to me why wanting clear consuming water makes you an activist, and why proposing to destroy water with chemical warfare doesn’t make a company a terrorist. —Winona LaDuke, Ojibwe

A single twig breaks, however the bundle of twigs is powerful. —Tecumseh, Shawnee

Native American Historic Quotes

He had advised the folks once they have been being provided cash to relocate, “Maintain cash in a single hand and dust within the different. Which one will last more?” This was a reminder that our folks have survived on this land since time immemorial and that we will’t simply promote the land to the very best bidder. We’re related to the land via our songs, language, and ceremonies. —Albert Cornelius Nelson remembering the phrases of his grandfather John Williams, Yavapai, as communicated to the writer

I’ve heard you propose to settle us on a reservation close to the mountains. I don’t wish to settle. I like to roam over the prairies. There I be at liberty and completely happy, however after we cool down we develop pale and die. —Chief Satanta, Kiowa

This warfare didn’t spring up on our land; this warfare was introduced upon us by the youngsters of the Nice Father who got here to take our land with no worth, and who, in our land, do an important many evil issues. … This warfare has come from theft—from the stealing of our land. —Brule Sioux Chief Noticed Tail

There’s a mistaken perception that the phrase Indian refers by some means to the nation, India. When Columbus washed up on the seashore within the Caribbean, he was not in search of a rustic known as India. Europeans have been calling that nation Hindustan in 1492. … Columbus known as the tribal folks he met “Indio,” from the Italian in dio, that means “in God.” —Russell Means, Oglala Lakota

How clean should be the language of the whites, once they could make proper seem like fallacious and fallacious like proper. —Black Hawk, Sauk

Captain Cook dinner got here to rape and pillage our folks. We whooped him and his crew. Then we ate him. —Jason Tobosa, Hawaiian, private communication with the writer 

I’m a pink man. If the Nice Spirit had desired me to be a white man, he would have made me so within the first place. He put in your coronary heart sure needs and plans; in my coronary heart, he put different and completely different wishes. Every man is nice in his sight. It isn’t essential for Eagles to be Crows. We’re poor … however we’re free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we should die … we die defending our rights. —Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Sioux

These have been the phrases given to my great-grandfather by the Grasp of Life: “At a while, there shall come amongst you a stranger, talking a language you don’t perceive. He’ll attempt to purchase the land from you, however don’t promote it; maintain it for an inheritance to your youngsters. —Aseenewub, Crimson Lake Ojibwa

I’m poor and bare however I’m the chief of the nation. We don’t want riches however we do wish to practice our kids proper. Riches would do us no good. We couldn’t take them with us to the opposite world. We don’t want riches. We would like peace and love. —Chief Crimson Cloud (Makhipiya-Luta), Sioux Chief

As soon as I used to be in Victoria, and I noticed a really giant home. They advised me it was a financial institution and that the white males place their cash there to be taken care of, and that by and by they bought it again with curiosity. We’re Indians, and we’ve no such financial institution; however when we’ve loads of cash or blankets, we give them away to different chiefs and other people, and by and by they return them with curiosity, and our hearts really feel good. Our means of giving is our financial institution. —Chief Maquinna, Nootka

When a white military battles Indians and wins, it’s known as an important victory, but when they lose, it’s known as a bloodbath. —Chiksika, Shawnee

Earlier than America can heal, it wants to simply accept its previous. With reference to historical past, the TRUTH will change the whole lot. —Floyd Crimson Crow Westerman, Sisseton Dakota

Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our flip with no wrestle, surrender our properties, our nation bequeathed to us by the Nice Spirit, the graves of our useless, and the whole lot that’s expensive and sacred to us? I do know you’ll cry with me, ‘By no means! By no means!’ —Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee

The varsity system wants to start out instructing the historical past of our folks from our story and cease instructing his-story. —Gabriel Ayala, Yoeme multidimensional artist, private communication with the writer

As Hopi folks, we migrated from the Mexico Metropolis space over 1,000 years in the past. We have been all completely different clans in search of a peaceable lifestyle. You can see a few of our ruins close to Winslow and Flagstaff, Arizona. —Moontee Sinquah, Hopi – Texas / Choctaw, private communication with the writer

If the white man needs to stay in peace with the Indian, he can stay in peace. … Deal with all males alike. Give all of them the identical legislation. Give all of them an excellent likelihood to stay and develop. All males have been made by the identical Nice Spirit Chief. They’re all brothers. The Earth is the mom of all folks, and all folks ought to have equal rights upon it. —Heinmot Tooyalakekt (Chief Joseph), Nez Perce chief

Let me be a free man, free to journey, free to cease, free to work, free to commerce the place I select my very own academics, free to observe the faith of my fathers, free to assume and speak and act for myself, and I’ll obey each legislation or undergo the penalty. —Heinmot Tooyalakekt (Chief Joseph), Nez Perce chief

As Native folks, our households have been plagued with intergenerational trauma stemming from colonization, boarding colleges, and MMIP. Our folks have suffered and our ancestors sacrificed for the hope of getting completely happy and secure households. After we overlook their sacrifices, we overlook that we even have generational knowledge to heal ourselves, our households, and our communities. Bear in mind the place you come from and take motion to honor people who got here earlier than you. —Cheryl Bearchild, Choctaw Nation, private communication with the writer

I used to be born on the prairies the place the wind blew free and there was nothing to interrupt the sunshine of the solar. I used to be born the place there have been no enclosures. —Geronimo, Chiricahua Apache

Native American Quotes About Spirit and Fact

In Lakota tradition, there isn’t a such factor because the satan or hell after we make our journey to the spirit world. Some say we’ve that choice to return again. —Wayne Waters, Oglala Lakota, private communication with the writer

The Nice Spirit is in all issues. He’s within the air we breathe. The Nice Spirit is our Father, however the Earth is our Mom. She nourishes us. … That which we put into the bottom she returns to us. —Huge Thunder Wabanaki, Algonquin

And whereas I stood there, I noticed greater than I can inform, and I understood greater than I noticed; for I used to be seeing in a sacred method the shapes of issues within the spirit, and the form of all shapes as they have to stay collectively like one being. —Black Elk, Oglala Lakota Sioux

Your life is a present from the Creator. Your present again to the Creator is what you do along with your life. —Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota

When a person does a bit of labor which is admired by all, we are saying that it’s fantastic; however after we see the adjustments of day and evening, the solar, the moon, and the celebrities within the sky, and the altering seasons upon the earth, with their ripening fruits, anybody should understand that it’s the work of somebody extra highly effective than man. —Chased-by-Bears, Santee-Yanktonai Sioux

Every Indian, man or lady, little one or Elder, is a spirit-warrior. —Leonard Peltier, Dakota / Lakota / Anishinaabe

Nice Spirit, Nice Spirit, my Grandfather, everywhere in the earth the faces of dwelling issues are all alike. … Look upon these faces of kids with out quantity and with youngsters of their arms, that they could face the winds and stroll the nice street to the day of quiet. —Black Elk, Oglala Sioux Holy Man

There isn’t a loss of life. Solely a change of worlds. —Chief Seattle, Suquamish Chief

It’s like there may be this predator power on this planet, and this predator power feeds on the essence of the spirit. —John Trudell, Santee Dakota

Defend your spirit, since you are within the place the place spirits get eaten. —John Trudell, Santee Dakota

What’s life? It’s the flash of a firefly within the evening. It’s a breath of a buffalo within the wintertime. It’s the little shadow which runs throughout the grass and loses itself within the sundown. —Crowfoot, Blackfeet warrior and orator

A very long time in the past, this land belonged to our fathers, however once I go as much as the river, I see camps of troopers on its banks. These troopers reduce down my timber, they kill my buffalo, and once I see that, my coronary heart appears like bursting. —Satanta, Kiowa Chief

After we dance, each step is a prayer, prayer in movement and motion. We dance for many who danced earlier than us, those that can not dance, and those that are coming into this world. After we sing, our breath and life are a prayer, singing with those that carried the songs into this technology, the track is a lifeline connecting us all to the place we come from and the place we’re going. Sacredness shouldn’t be a faith, it’s a lifestyle. This is the reason we sing and pray collectively. We’re alive and we’re thriving. —Paul Flores IV, Apache

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