Walking Buffalo
(Page 3 of 3)
In Germany: "I remember the war years. We were led to
hate the Germans. Now I think they are good people. I'd
pitch my tent here anytime. I'll never hate anybodv again.
Hating hurts me more than it hurts the other fellow. "
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To all Indians, he said: "You see, we lost our land and
our freedom, but we don't have to lose all our Indian ways
and habits. As good Indians, we can make a substantial
contribution to Canadian culture. It may not have occurred
to many white men that red, black, and yellow peoples might
have some good ideas about satisfying the world's needs.
1'll never try to justify the foolish fighting and scalping
my people did, but in some ways, we had better ways of
living. At least we kept our fighting to small wars,
whereas the so-called civilized whites go in for big
conflicts. "There's a lot of madness in the white man's
world. We think whites would be better off to slow down and
live closer to the soil and forests and growing things,
instead of galloping around like stampeding buffaloes in
cutback country. If they would take some of our advice,
they might find a contentment which they had not discovered
in their mad rush for money and for the pleasures which
they think it will buy. "
To all White Men, he said: "It's strange, but in trying
to find solutions to Indian problems, the authorities speak
to nearly everybody but Indians. Many of us could offer
sound advice on this question. But remember, we're proud of
our race, and we want to continue to be Indians. I was born
with a bronze skin and I like it. Some of my friends were
born white or black or yellow. They were not consulted. But
that's all right. There are yellow roses, white roses, and
red roses and the fragrance of one is about as nice as
another. I hope my children will live in a world where
people of all colors can sit and work together without
having to conform completely to the majority's will . . .
You must accept us as Indians who want to be Indians and
who are proud to be Indians. "
Death claimed our wise brother December 26, 1967, and
the entire world mourned. Any fool can be quarrelsome and
belligerant. Being half good and half bad takes neither
effort nor skill. But being a man of peace requires
bravery.
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