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Generosity: A traditional value

At a very early age, a child was taught to be generous. Generosity was a safe guard against greed and the desire obtain material possessions. The Dakota viewed a greedy, ungenerous man as out of balance with his spirituality. Stories and legends of the disgrace that fell on stingy and mean men were told to children at an early age to warn them from becoming overly greedy. The contempt the other tribal members had for this type of person was always pointed out.

The Dakota was a generous person. “Give aways” were held frequently. The family held these events to celebrate births, marriage, death, or to honor to any person or event. Often the family gave always all their possessions expecting nothing in return. This is what our Ethic course stresses.... if we are proud of our Indian heritage because of the high moral and ethical character thy demonstrated, then let’s honor our ancestors by striving to live by the high moral and ethical character they modeled.