11 wonderful proverbs of the North American Indians

The proverbs of the North American Indians are very special. In their meaning they convey a magnificent balance between concord, strength and the dignity. And almost all of them have as a backdrop a genuine love for nature.

North American Indians have been represented for decades with a stereotype warrior. Almost all “cowboys and Indians” movies show them as essentially combat-oriented communities. However, the philosophy that emerges from their proverbs speaks of a vision of the world oriented towards peace and mutual respect.

Although most of those communities were exterminated, much of his wisdom managed to survive the genocide. Many of his teachings overcame time and violence. Thanks to this, we have made a selection of 11 of his proverbs for everyone’s delight. They are the following.

The choice of thoughts

The Dakota provide several of the most beautiful proverbs of the North American Indians. This is one of the most interesting: “Think what you want to think, but don’t forget that you have to live with your own thoughts every day”.

This teaching reminds us that It is we ourselves who choose the thoughts that live in our minds. And it is those guests who accompany us day and night. It is up to each of us what kind of ideas we allow to live there.

Environment

Several of the North American Indian proverbs refer to the importance of nature. This one, for example, calls to moderate arrogance in the face of what surrounds us: “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors ; we only borrow it from our children”.

Likewise, they warn about the responsibility of human beings towards other forms of life: “When the last tree is cut down, the last river poisoned, the last fish caught, only then will people realize that money can’t eat”. In one way or another, they advanced centuries in time with a teaching like this.

Everything has a purpose

The original communities propose a meaning for everything that exists: “Everything on earth has a purpose, every herb can cure a disease, every person has a mission to fulfill. . This is the concept of the Indians about existence”.

This means that Every being, animate and inanimate, has a reason to exist. Its presence in the world is fully justified, although it is not understandable to whoever perceives it. Therefore, this North American Indian proverb is also a call to respect and tolerance.

Judging others, in the proverbs of the North American Indians

Just as in other societies, in those of the North American Indians there is a warning about the risk of being unfair when judging others. This is what this Sioux proverb points out: “Before judging someone, walk 3 moons in their moccasins”.

Consideration for others is not only about being cautious when making judgments. Some proverbs also make a direct call to avoid harming others, because ultimately it is harm that one does to oneself.

This is what this aphorism points out: “Avoid hurting people’s hearts, the poison of the pain you cause others will return to you. You must be sincere and true in all your actions. Honesty is the great inheritance that we will leave to the universe”.

Learn from the strong

Many of these societies sought peace, but were also prepared for war. That is why many of the proverbs of the North American Indians allude to struggle. One of them says the following: “The brave dies once, the coward many times.”.

This sentence alludes to the fact that the brave is determined, while the coward doubts. For this reason, the suffering of lack of courage is equivalent to dying many times. This idea of ​​value is reinforced in another beautiful proverb: “If you want to be strong like the bison, don’t eat bison, but what it eats”.

The phrase is a call to look at strength as a process that occurs from the inside out and not the other way around. It is complemented by another Navajo proverb that states: “A rocky terrain doesn’t need a prayer, it needs a sharp ax”. In this case, it exalts the value of the action and not the intention.

Friendship

The original communities of America placed great value on friendship and loyalty. In this proverb they emphasize the dedication that friendship requires: “Walk often the path that leads to your friend’s garden, lest the weeds prevent you from seeing the way.”.

It is a beautiful phrase that calls to cultivate bonds of friendship. It also warns that failure to do so could create barriers that later prove difficult to defeat. Friendship needs interest, time and proximity. Otherwise, it will hardly survive.

Walk together

In this beautiful teaching of the Ute Indians a true catalog of what equality means in human relationships is condensed: “Don’t go after me, maybe I don’t know how to lead. Don’t go ahead, maybe he won’t want to follow you. Come to my side so we can walk together”.

This, like other North American Indian proverbs, is a compendium of wisdom. Although almost all of these communities currently represent only a small minority, without a doubt, His knowledge has a universal scope.

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