10 Indian Commandments

The Earth is our Mother, care for her.

  1. Honor all your relations.
  2. Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit.
  3. All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect.
  4. Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.
  5. Do what needs to be done for the good of all.
  6. Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each new day.
  7. Speak the truth; but only of good in others.
  8. Follow the rhythms of nature; rise and retire with the sun.
  9. Enjoy life's journey, but leave no tracks.

"Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that, "thought comes before speech."

- Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief