From Wakan Tanka,
The Great Spirit, there came a
great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things - the flowers
of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals - and was the same
force that had been breathed into the first man. Thus all things were kindred,
and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.
Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and
water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there
existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them. And so close
did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true
brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.
The animals had rights - the right of a man's
protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and
the right to man's indebtedness - and in recognition of these rights the Lakota
never enslaved an animal, and spared all life that was not needed for food and
clothing.
This concept of life and its relations with
humanizing, and gave to the Lakota an abiding love. It filled his being with
joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place
for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.
The Lakota could not despise no creature, for
all were of one blood, made by the same hand, and filled with the essence of
the Great Mystery.
In spirit, the Lakota were humble and meek.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" - this was
true for the Lakota, and from the earth they inherited secrets long since
forgotten. Their religion is sane, natural, and human.
