~~~

Your religious calling was written on plates of stone
by the flaming finger of an angry God.
Our religion was established by the traditions of our
ancestors, the dreams of the Elders that are given to
them in the silent hours of the night by the Great Spirit
and the premonitions of the learned beings.

It is written in the hearts of our people thus:
We do not require churches which would only lead us
to argue about God. We do not wish this. Earthly things
may be argued about with men, but we never argue over
God. And the thought that white men should rule over
Nature and change its ways following his liking was
never understood by the Red man.

Our belief is that the Great Spirit has created all things.
Not just mankind but all animals, all plants, all rocks.
All on earth and amongst the stars with true soul.
For us all life is holy. But, you do not understand
our prayers when we address the sun, moon and winds.
You have judged us without understanding. Only because
our prayers are different. But we are able to live
in harmony with all Nature.
All of Nature is within us and we are part of all Nature.

Chief White Cloud