Source of Quotations: Susan Hazen-Hammond, Timelines of Native American History, pages 92, 101, 104, 109, 113, 119, 125, 128, 135, 144, 147, 155, 167.
A. "Brother: We are of the same opinion with the people of the United States; you consider yourselves as independent people; we, as the original inhabitants of this country, and sovereigns of the soil, look upon ourselves as equally independent, and free as any other nation or nations. This country was given to us by the Great Spirit above; we wish to enjoy it, and have our passage along the lake within the line we have pointed out…. We have told you our patience is worn out; but not so far, but that we wish for peace, and whenever we hear that pleasing sound, we shall pay attention to it."
--Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) Mohawk leader, at a council with whites, 1794.
B. "I have done the white people all the harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely. If I had an army, I would yet fight, and contend to the last. But I have none. My people are all gone. I can now do no more than weep over the misfortunes of my nation."
--Red Eagle, Creek leader, surrendering to Gen. Andrew Jackson, 1814.
C. "The Great Spirit made us all-he made my skin red, and yours white; he placed us on this earth, and intended that we should live differently from each other. He made the whites to cultivate the earth, and feed on domestic animals; but he made us, red skins, to rove through the uncultivated woods and plains; to feed on wild animals; and to dress with their skins. He also intended that we should go to war…cultivate peace at home and promote the happiness of each other."
--Petalesharo, Pawnee leader, speaking to President James Monroe, 1822.
D. "They are now running their plows through our graveyards, turning up the bones and ashes of our sacred dead, whose spirits are calling to us from the land of dreams for vengeance on the despoilers. Will the descendants of Nanamakee and our other illustrious dead stand idly by and suffer this sacrilege to be continued?… The Great Spirit whispers in my ear, no!"
--Black Hawk, Sac leader, speaking to his people in April 1832.
E. "If among the whites, a man purchased a piece of land, and another came upon it, you would drive him off. Let the Sioux keep away from our lands and there will be peace."
--Keokuk, Sac leader, at a council in which Sioux and Sacs accuse one another of encroaching on each other's lands, October 5, 1837.
F. "This is our war. We have more right to complain of you for interfering in our war than you have to quarrel with us for continuing a war we had begun long before you got here. If you will act justly, you will allow us to settle our own differences."--Sarcilla Largo, Navaho leader, complaining about interference from the U.S. Army in the long-standing battles beween Hispanic and Navajo New Mexicans. November 21, 1846.
G. "Revenge by young men is considered gain, even at the cost of their own lives, but old men who stay at home in times of war, and mothers who have sons to lose, know better." --Seattle, chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish, 1853 or 1854 H. "Why should I mourn at the untimely fate of my people? Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Your time of decay may be distant, but it will surely come, for even the White Man whose God walked and talked with him as friend with friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be brothers after all. We will see."
--Chief Seattle, 1853
--Saying among the San Juan Paiutes, as a reminder that the only people you can really count on are family
J. "When I was young, I walked all over this country, east and west, and saw no other people than the Apaches. After many summers I walked again and found another race of people had come to take it…. The Apaches were once a great nation; they are now but few, and because of this they want to die."
--Cochise, Apache leader, at a peace council, September 1866
K. "I once thought that I was the only man that persevered to be the friend of the white man, but since they have come and cleaned out our lodges, horses, and everything else, it is hard for me to believe white men anymore."
--Black Kettle,
____ L.
"The Great Spirit made us both. He gave us land and he gave you land. You
came here and we received you as brothers. When the Almighty made you, He made
you all white and clothed you. When He made us, He made us with red skins and
poor. You do not know who appears before you to speak. He is a representative
of the original American race, the first people on this continent. We are good
and not bad…. If we had more lands to give you, we would give them, but we have
no more. We are driven into a very little island, and we want you, our dear
friends, to help us with the Government of the
--Red Cloud, Sioux leader, speaking to a white
audience at Cooper Institute in