"Our white relatives say the Indian is stoic. This is not necessarily true. We just wait to see the true person. Given time, they will show their true self, so we wait, and time will provide the proof."
"In our old Dakota viewpoint on life, with all of its aspects of the human heart, our old, old elders could see that everything that has life tries to be round, with a very holy center. The center wherein resided our beautiful old grandmothers and grandfathers. Together, they extended out to all who could hear their voices, their love, their encouragement, their gratitude, their understanding, their compassion always softened by their actions and words of their forgiveness."
"The heart is always in search of happiness. Nothing makes one feel lonelier nor more helpless than no one to appreciate one's being and efforts to make the home a haven from life's daily problems. I charge you to hold one another gently but firmly. The strength, courage, and love united in one union can withstand the bitter storms that may be faced in one's journey."
"There is nothing so satisfying as to toil for someone you love or someone by whom you are loved."
"Press on Mitakuyepi, there is no time to waste!"
TRIBUTE TO INDIAN HONOUR
"Our people love to honor people. We are a race of people who believes in honor. We know honor stimulates people. The man honored his wife, and the wife honored her husband. And they lived in such beauty. They had a devotion which individually and collectively we all need if we're going to make this a better world to live in."
TRIBUTE TO THE OLD ONES
"There were prophecies I remember, as a boy, saying we're going to go through some bitter, bitter times. We're going to shed some tears. But the time would come when we begin to see the light again. When spring would start coming again. Think of all the potential that you have. Think of the contributions you all can make. Think of the love in your hearts that you can share with other people. Be quick to forgive people (if they can hurt you in some way). Be like the old people..."
Winds of Change
Winter 1992
HO, MATO GI, HE MIYEDO
Ihanktowan Dakota Elder, Phil Lane Sr. 1/13 1913-3/29/2004
