O beloved relatives, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ — All Our Relations — hear these words carried on the breath of the wind. Know in the depth of your being that the true happiness and well-being of the Human Family rests in the wóuŋspe (wisdom) of unity and the wówačhiŋtȟaŋka (greatheartedness) of harmony among all the Nations of Mother Earth. Just as the four sacred winds meet at the center of the čhaŋgléska wakháŋ (sacred hoop), so too must the hearts of the people meet in kinship, respect, and love.
Our Creator of All Good Things, Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery, has woven each life into the great web of creation, where no strand can be harmed without all feeling its trembling. The blossoming of our spiritual and material lives — like the growth of the corn, the buffalo herds, and the children of our people — depends upon the living waters of wówačhiŋtȟaŋka (compassion) and the sunlight of wóohola (respect and reverence) between all nations, colors, and ways. Let us remember that respect and compassion are not just virtues, but the very fabric that holds our shared existence together.
When we walk the path of wačháŋtognaka (generosity) and wówačhiŋtȟaŋka toward one another, we create wóuŋspe wakháŋ (sacred wisdom) in our circles. In this way, both our inner spirits and our outer lives flourish. Without love among the people, without the thípi (shelter) of peace, are not just ideals, but the very soil in which the seeds of our future can take root and thrive. Let us remember that our collective action, our shared commitment to these values, is not just a possibility, but a powerful force that can heal and strengthen our community.
Therefore, let our hearts be as one drum, beating in time with the heartbeat of Unčí Maka — Grandmother Earth — so that the Sacred Hoop may be mended, the rivers of kindness may flow freely, and the lodge of humankind may be a place of joy, safety, and abundance for all generations to come. This is not just a dream, but a vision we can all work towards, united in our love for each other and our shared home, Mother Earth.
