2018 Elder Quote Posters

NDNAEU 1: Sacred Relatives How We Relate to Everything Native people practice a deep interconnectedness with the land, the resources, the water, all living things and all human beings. Land stewardship, respect for all 2 legged, 4 legged, winged, crawlers and swimmers and a strong belief in the sacredness of all human beings are key elements of our spirituality. “We are only a piece of this larger concept of spirituality. We are only here to do our little part... and what we do know is that if we have faith in a Creator and the plan for us, then all these things are going to work out.” Spirit Lake Dakota, Leander “Russ” McDonald LVI How We Promote & Sustain Our Cultures, Languages & Traditions AnNOWIE na Va: “We always call our little ones sacred, Wakan Hecapi. I’ve always been blessed to teach the sacred. At the same time they’re teaching me. I’m honored to be their teacher.” Spirit Lake Dakota Elder, Oliver Gourd i= | “In Dakota Way, when somebody asks you for something you are not supposed to say no. It’s a way of taking care of your elders and those who are in need.” Spirit Lake Dakota Elder, Kenneth Jerome Hill How We Promote & Sustain Our Cultures, Languages & Traditions Native people have ric ions of s y and generosity “Feed somebody when you've got a visitor....Even if you only have bread, coffee and tea...feed them.” Spirit Lake Dakota Elder, Violet Smith NDNAEU 4: Sense of Humor How We Promote & Sustain Our Cultures, Languages & Traditions Native people have a rich history of shared sense of humor that includes teaching stories involving Iktomi, Maymaygwisi and Nanabozhoo. These stories and this unique sense of humor continue to support our resiliency and cohesiveness. “| think that a sense of humor is very valuable, and it’s helped our people to overcome for hundreds of years... Sense of humor leads to that resiliency... to help people think about something other than themselves and to get lightened in the heart and the mind— to put one foot in front of the other and move on.” Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Elder, Debbe Poitra NDNAEU 5: Tribal Policies, Treaties & Sovereignty How We Respond to & Contribute to All of Society from Local to Global Native people practice self-determination, developing tribal policies and practicing political activism. Despite a history of US policies and Treaties that have often been detrimental, Native people are members of sovereign nations that predate the US government. “We are Native American People, if America wants to succeed by totally assimilating us, our language will be taken from us...we will just be Americans. That is our fight, we don’t want to just be Americans.” Hidatsa Elder, Charles Moran NDNAEU 6: Native Contributions How We Respond to & Contribute to All of Society from Local to Global Native people continue to contribute to all levels of society from local to global in diverse fields including medicine, science, government, education, economics, art, music, and many more. “They (oil companies and mainstream society) need to learn why the land is so significant. It may look to them like we are putting up a big fuss, the problem child, but it’s way deeper than that — the environment is a part of us, the land, Mother Earth...I’m going to help facilitate this process so mainstream society can understand.” Lorraine Davis, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Kimaéiccn e INGALIVS Who We Are jefined and sup} veo Ala f | ures, traditiona es. A continuum of tribal identity, unique to each indiv assimilated to traditional lifes There is no “generic American In a “God didn’t make me to talk Latin, that’s why | can’t remember it. | remember my Dakota. He made me Dakota. | never did forget my language.” Spirit Lake Dakota Elder, Demus McDonald