"My Father: a long time has passed since first we came upon our lands; and our people have all sunk into their graves. They had sense. We are all young and foolish,and do not wish to do anything that they would not approve, were they living. We are fearful we shall offend their spirits if we sell our lands; and we are fearful we shall offend you if we do not sell them. This has caused us great perplexity of thought, because we have counselled among ourselves, and do not know how we can part with our lands. My Father, we have sold you a great tract of land already; but it is not enough! We sold it to you for the benefit of your children, to farm and to live upon. We have now but a little left. We shall want it all for ourselves. We know not how long we shall live, and we wish to leave some lands for our children to hunt upon. You are gradually taking away our hunting grounds. Your children are driving us before them. We are growing uneasy. What lands you have you may retain. But we shall sell no more"
Metea, a Potowatami chief of the Illinois nation
"I love a people who have always made me welcome to the best they had. I love a people who are honest without laws, who have no jails and no poorhouses. I love a people who keep the commandments without ever having read them or heard them preached from the pulpit. I love a people who never swear, who never take the name of God in vain. I love a people who love their neighbors as they love themselves. I love a people who worship God without a bible, for I believe God loves them also. I love a people whose religion is all the same, and who are free from religious animosities. I love a people who have never raised a hand against me, or stolen my property, where there was no law to punish for either. I love a people who have never fought a battle with white men, except on their own ground. I love and don't fear mankind where God has made and left them, for there they are children. I love a people who live and keep what is their own without locks and keys. I love all people who do the best they can. And oh, how I love a people who don't live for the love of money!"
George Catlin, artist, lived among the American Indians for approximately eight years spoke these words.
"One does not sell the land people walk on."
Crazy Horse ~ Sept. 23, 1875
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