Chief Dan George OC
(July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981 ~ chief of the Tsleil-Waututh
Nation...
a
Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve
is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of District of
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was also an author,
poet and an Academy Award-nominated actor. Born as Geswanouth
Slahoot in
North Vancouver, his English name was originally Dan
Slahoot. The
surname was changed to George
when he entered a 'residential school' at age 5. He worked a number
of different jobs including a longshoreman,
construction worker and school bus driver. He
was band chief from 1951 to 1963.
Canadian
Donald Sutherland narrated the following poem...My
Heart Soars
(by Chief
Dan George)
at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
“The
beauty of the trees...
the
softness of the air...
the fragrance of the
grass …
speaks to me.
The
summit of the mountain...
the
thunder of the sky...
the
rhythm of the sea...
speaks to me.
The
strength of the fire...
the
taste of the salmon...
the
trail of the sun...
and
the life that never goes away...
they
speak to me.
And
my heart soars.”
One thing to remember is to talk to the animals. If you do, they
will talk back to you. But, if you don't talk to the animals, they
won't talk back to you, then you won't understand, and when you don't
understand, you will fear and when you fear, you will destroy the
animals, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
(Chief Dan George ~ Native Canadian Indian)
Love is a need as vital as breath. We must have it because our
spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because, without it, we become
weak and faint. Without love, our self-esteem weakens. Without it,
our courage fails. Without love, we can no longer look out
confidently at the world.
But, with love, we are creative. With it, we march tirelessly.
With it, and with it alone, we
are able to sacrifice for others.
(Chief Dan George ~ Native Canadian Indian)
Chief Yellow Lark:
Oh, Great Spirit...whose voice I hear in the winds,
And
whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!
Ojibway Indian
Poem:
Sometimes I go pitying myself
And
all the while I am being carried across the sky
By
beautiful clouds.
Chief Seattle:
Teach your children what we have taught our children...that the
Earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the sons of
Earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. This
we know ~ the Earth does not belong to man ~ man belongs to the
Earth.
Native American
Grandfather
was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, “I feel as
if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful,
angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.”
The Grandson asked him,“Which wolf will win the fight in your
heart?” The Grandfather answered, “The one I feed.” (Native
American story)
Life Quotes by Plains Cree Elders
If you want to learn your language, you need to use it.
(Freda Ahanakew, Muskeg Lake First Nation)
We have to put our minds together as Indian people for the good of
our youngsters
and teach our children their mother tongue.
(Smith Atimoyoo, Little Pine First Nation)
In the old days, we used to respect everything.
This isn't done today, that's why we are lost.
(Isiah Bear, Muskoday First Nation)
I will never let my culture go! I fear for our young people.
I hope they have enough sense to seek spiritual guidance from the
elders.
(Edward Fox, Sweetgrass First Nation)
The treaties must not be forgotten. We must remind our children
of this.
(Edward Okanee, Thunderchild First Nation)
Realize that we as human beings have been put on Earth
for only a short time and that we must use this time to gain
wisdom, knowledge, respect and the understanding
for all human beings ...since we are all relatives.
(Cree Proverb)
Be truthful and respectful in our speech, which is in itself is a
miracle
and a gift from the Creator...that we might use it
only to speak good of each other and pass on the good things of
life.
(Cree Proverb)
Only when the last tree has died
and
the last river has been poisoned
and
the last fish has been caught
will
we realize
we
cannot eat money.
(Cree Indian Expression)
Merle Baird-Kerr...compiled March 6, 2015
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