Mother Earth
Native American Commandments
Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
Remain close to the Great Spirit.
Show great respect for your fellow beings.
Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
Do what you know to be right.
Look after the well being of mind and body.
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
Be truthful and honest at all times.
Take full responsibility for your actions.
Great Spirit,
give us hearts to understand;
never to take from creation's beauty more than we give;
never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed;
never to deny to give our hands for the building of earth's beauty;
never to take from her what we cannot use.
Give us hearts to understand
that to destroy earth's music is to create confusion;
that to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty;
that to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench;
that as we care for her she will care for us.
We have forgotten who we are.
We have sought only our own security.
We have exploited simply for our own ends.
We have distorted our knowledge.
We have abused our power.
Great Spirit, whose dry lands thirst,
help us to find the way to refresh your lands.
Great Spirit, whose waters are choked with debris and pollution,
help us to find the way to cleanse your waters.
Great Spirit, whose beautiful earth grows ugly with misuse,
help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork.
Great Spirit, whose creatures are being destroyed,
help us to find a way to replenish them.
Great Spirit, whose gifts to us are being lost in selfishness and corruption,
help us to find the way to restore our humanity.
Glacier Legacy © Jonathan Earl Bowser www.jonathonart.com
© Jonathan Earl Bowser
Indigenous Peoples' Literature Return to Indigenous Peoples' Literature Compiled by: Glenn Welker
Copyright © 1996-107Copyright © 1996-107
This page last updated 07/07/2007 01:38:38 This page last updated 06/09/2004 00:31:46
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amen
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nice and complete...awesome
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This is great. I wonder if I can print this out. I have a friend who want to learn more about the Native American's. This is done so well I would like to share it with her. I love the way you did this. I feel this is an excellent. Thanks for sharing it with us
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Sure
You can print it out if you would like. -
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thank you I am going to show it to a freind
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Respect and sincerity!
My first time reading these commandments. Thank you for printing out the text as well as displaying the background. The part that speaks to destroying earth's music, wrecking her appearance and polluting her fragrance struck a chord with me. While I have understood these to be part of a Native American's way of life or being I had never seen them assembled in this manner. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention in this way. Jadon -
im glad it came out so well
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