Why are the Washington Redskins, Jeep Cherokee, and Red Man Chewing Tobacco popular names when the Washington Brownskins, Jeep Chicano, and Black Man chewing tobacco would be considered offensive? Why is the Cleveland Indians baseball logo, Chief Wahoo, acceptable when other racial caricatures, such as Little Black Sambo and the Frito Bandito, are not? The answer, in part, is that anti-Indian prejudice does not receive as much attention as do other forms of racism.

Founding Fathers - by David Behrens

The four faces carved on stolen Indian lands supposedly represent the four most notable presidents of the United States. With their ideals and values defined through the study of Iroquois society, America's founding fathers are indebted to the Lakota and all Indian peoples for their mere existence. But, in the Sacred Black Hills those presidents carved on that granite rock were more than mere democratic deviants.

The founding fathers on that rock shared common characteristics. All four valued white supremacy and promoted the extirpation of Indian society. The United States' founding fathers were staunchly anti-Indian advocates in that at one time or another, all four provided for genocide against Indian peoples of this hemisphere.

The meaning of the word 'Squaw'...
Some Native scholars, like Abenaki anthropologist Marge Bruhac, argue that esqua, ochqueu, iskew, skwa, esquao, skwe and other variants of "squaw" come from the Algonquin family of languages where the root means "the totality of being female." This definition was lost a long time ago, according to leaders in the American Indian Movement and many other Native activists. The French fur traders started using the word "squaw" to mean female genitalia or prostitute. In large part because the pioneers needed to dehumanize their land-grab victims, the contemptuous connotation was extended far beyond the Algonquin tribes to include all Native women. Even though there are attempts to reclaim the word in a good way, it is still considered the worst of insults and should never be used when referring to a Native woman or any woman for that matter.

There is a traditional code of ethics among Native American Peoples... this page is dedicated to helping you focus your thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions in an honorable way as the children are taught, so should we all do.

To feel and show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or something with deference or courtesy”. Showing respect is a basic law of life.

Treat every person from the smallest child to the oldest elder with respect at all times. Special respect should be given to Elders, Parents, Teachers, and Community Leaders. No person should be made to feel “put down” by you; avoid hurting other hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison.

Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of others. Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless. Listen with your heart. Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once you give an idea to a council meeting it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the people. Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea prevail. Indeed you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed. The clash of ideas brings forth the Spark of Truth.

Touch nothing that belongs to someone else(especially Sacred Objects)without permission, or an understanding between you. Respect the privacy of every person, never intrude on a person’s quiet moment or personal space. Never walk between people that are conversing. Never interrupt people who are conversing.

Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.

Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions.

Broken Promises...
"They made us many promises
more than I can remember -
but they kept one...
They promised to take our land,
and they took it."

Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests.

The hurt of one is the hurt of all, the honor of one is the honor of all.

Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family. All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator they must all be respected.

Teach the People Better

Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special respect is due. Do not speak unless invited to do so at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt). Never speak about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not.

To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation, and the world is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important talks. True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.

Observe moderation and balance in all things. Know those things that lead to your well-being, and those things that lead to your destruction. Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms; in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends.