All over the world where Native peoples are found, they bring a deep love for the land and creation. They don’t have a “religion” as such but more wisdom and reverence towards Nature. While there are different tribes and different locations of the world where they live, they all have similar words of wisdom to impart.
All the images in this collage were taken by me. The background is Niagara Falls with what looked like icebergs to me – right in front of the Falls. It was spectacular! From what I have seen of different kinds of Native art, there are certain similarities. I bought a lovely little book recently called “The Song of Life” and I will share some of the wisdom that was in there.
Being Indian is an attitude
a state of mind,
a way of being in harmony
with all things and all beings.
It is allowing the heart to be distributor
of energy on this planet:
to allow feelings and sensitivities to determine
where energy goes;
bringing aliveness up from the Earth
and down from the Sky
putting it in and giving it out from the heart.
BROOKE MEDICINE EAGLE
OUR GREAT TASK
Being born as humans
to this earth is a very sacred trust.
We have
a sacred responsibility because of the special gift we have,
which is beyond the gifts of the plant life,
the fish, the woodlands, the birds,
and all the other living things on earth.
We are able to take care of them.
AUDREY SHENENDOAH, ONONDAGA
The Indian knows that even the smallest animal
has great importance and teach us great things.
So too, all the little things we do every day
have great importance.
Our life if full of many little things in each day
and in every moment.
We should not concentrate on some great event
that we expect to come in the future,
but on the correct performance of all our daily obligations.
THOMAS YELLOWTAIL, (1903-1993)
We are all aware of books like “The Power of Now” and other books of this nature telling us to live in the moment. The Christian Jesus said: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Here we have it from Native Spirituality – “the correct performance of all of our daily obligations.”
Hope you enjoyed the wisdom offered here – by Native peoples.
