Part of showing gratitude includes treating the land with respect by not polluting it, wasting its resources, or dramatically altering it. Interfering with the land has its consequences. Since most tribes perceive a relatedness among beings, they realize that disturbing an ecosystem may start a chain reaction of flooding, species extinction, or cancer. "We have these earthquakes and other natural disasters because people are poisoning their Mother the Earth, they are poisoning her bloodstreams and cutting off her hair. They're not following the laws about caring for the Earth," explains Janet McCloud, a direct descendent of Chief Seattle and a spokesperson for Nisqually fishing rights. Chief John Snow (Assiniboine) describes perhaps one of the most tragic consequences of abusing the land: "If an area is destroyed, marred, or polluted, my people say, the spirits will leave there. If pollution continues not only animals, birds, and plant life will disappear, but the spirits will also leave. This is one of the greatest concerns of Indian people."

Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world. Do nothing to pollute our Mother, rise up with wisdom to defend her.

Mother Earth teaches us to be human. She brings love to life and shares her gifts with us. In return for the gifts of our Mother, it is our responsibility as humans to care for all living beings living upon her.

The rock carries the wisdom of the ages and is known as the oldest teacher and is called, "Grandfather". From the rock we learn inner strength and faith. The rock is slow to move yet when the rock moves, the whole world pays attention.

The tree teaches us about honesty for the tree is able to move the nutrients from the roots to its uppermost branches. The sap moves through the tree just as we must learn to allow truth to move through us. For each human there is a tree that is just like you. If you are acting as though you carry the whole world upon your shoulders, you will see a tree that is bowed down. Some trees appear to be tall, straight and beautiful, yet that same tree may be rotten on the inside. Some people are like that. Crooked people will see crooked trees, just like them. We must strive to be tall, straight and honest and grounded with a good root system and to know that just as each tree is an individual and a member of a family, so are we.

Although it gets walked on, grass, keeps coming back. As humans we do that to one another, yet even when we get "walked upon" we must show kindness to ourselves and others and keep coming back. We also nurture, fertilize and care for the grass just as we must care for one another.. A blade of grass has two sides to it just as we, as humans have a smooth side and a rough side. We must recognize this and be kind to ourselves in order to smooth out the rough edges.

The animals give us the greatest gift of all and that is the lesson of sharing. They give up their lives so that we can live. In the old days, our ancestors would offer a prayer to the Creator and ask for an animal to feed the people. When a hunter connected with an animal, that was an indication the animal was ready to die. After the hunter killed the animal, it's heart was divided among the hunters and a piece of the heart was offered back to Mother Earth with a prayer of thanks.

As humans we need to learn to share with one another and give thanks for the gifts of life shared with us.

The four teachings of faith, honesty, caring and sharing which come with the rock, the tree, the grasses and the animals keep us connected with our Mother Earth.

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find money cannot be eaten.

Cree Prophecy

Klickitat Brave

Earth teach me quiet,
as the grasses are still with new light.

Earth teach me suffering,
as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility,
as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring,
as mothers nurture their young.

Earth teach me courage,
as the tree that stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation,
as the ant that crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom,
as the eagle that soars in the sky.

Earth teach me acceptance,
as the leaves that die each fall.

Earth teach me renewal,
as the seed that rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself,
as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness,
as dry fields weep with rain.