Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us Dennis Banks More Quotes by Dennis Banks More Quotes From Dennis Banks Even the people who come our way look upon us in amazement, that we run only for the healing of Mother Earth Dennis Banks healing mother running Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species. Dennis Banks native-american believe people What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride. Dennis Banks responsibility native-american school And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. Dennis Banks standing-alone moral people It also called upon traditional people in the Four Directions to strengthen the healing ceremonies and asked people to heed the warnings of Mother Earth. Dennis Banks healing mother people The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us. Dennis Banks stars moon sun When you have a spiritual foundation, you look at poverty differently then. Dennis Banks foundation spiritual looks I'm on this road for the rest of my life. Dennis Banks inspire life Most importantly, the meaning of spirituality lays the seeds for our destiny and the path we must follow. Dennis Banks spirituality destiny path To be selected was an honor, and in respect of the family member chosen to run, families held feasts and gave away prized beaver coats, quilled tobacco bags and buffalo hides. Dennis Banks bags honor running Every man should see the birth of his children Dennis Banks birth men children I have a Father's Day every day Dennis Banks dad father In 1978, the tradition of running from village to village with a message was revived. that first run was from Davis to Los Angeles, a distance of 500 miles Dennis Banks distance messages running The Canadian run can be no different, at least in terms of actual running. Dennis Banks term different running In 1990 we ran across Europe through 13 countries and covering 7,130 miles. Dennis Banks covering europe country I was taken to a boarding school when I was four years old and taken away from my mother and my father, my grandparents, who I stayed with most of the time, and just abruptly taken away and then put into the boarding school, 300 miles away from our home. Dennis Banks mother home time father I ran away. I kept running away. Almost once a week, I'd run away from those schools. They'd catch me. They'd bring me back to the school, beat me. And it was - it was terrible. Dennis Banks beat back me school It was like a complicit - there was complicity between the churches and the state in taking care of the 'Indian problem,' solving the 'Indian problem,' and trying to change who we were. Dennis Banks care problem change trying In 1967 the last Unity Caravan was held. Dennis Banks caravan held last unity When we arrived in Japan in 1988, we were not prepared for the overwhelming support shown to us. Dennis Banks arrived us japan support
