Our Ethical History
Historically, we Native Americans were very ethical people.
Ethics and morality were interwoven through all aspect of
our ancestors' daily lives. The specifics differed from
tribe to tribe but they all had ceremonies to help build
character. The Pipe Ceremony. The Purification Ceremony,
The Vision Quest, The Naming Ceremony, Smudging are all
examples of ways in which spirituality was part of our
ancestors' daily lives. They had many sacred objects,sacred
symbols, and sacred land. Caring for and respecting the
land, the people and ourselves was taught to children as a
natural part of daily living.
Stealing from one another was almost unheard of, so was
lying. This ethical behavior allowed our ancestors to live
in harmony with each other The first white men who came in
contact we us we amazed that although none of the laws were
written down rules were strictly adhered to. These first
white men who truly understood Indian society had nothing
but praise for
our ancestors' character.
George Catlin, an artist who spent many months living among
different Native Americans tribe , wrote this about
American Indians:
George Catlin's creed on the Indians.
♣I love the 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 that God loves them also.
♣I love the people whose religion is all the same,
and who are free from religious animosities.
♣I love the people who have never raised a hand
against me, or stolen my property, where there was no law
to punish for either.
♣I love the 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!
