of the parts of the animals they hunted. All men were equal
and honorable. God was the prime ruler of the lives of all
Indians. Family bonds were strong. Weapons were used only
as mechanisms of defense and for hunting purposes. Of
course, there were wars, and there was crime but nothing like
the wars and crime of today. The people had a sense of worth
and spirit that can’t even be imagined in today’s technological
society. The mountains talked to them and the streams had a
voice and personality. Nature was respected and resources
were used carefully. Nevertheless, even against these
overwhelming odds, the traditional cultures and religions
survived. Technologies and practices adapted to Western
society, but the core values of native peoples remained.
Today, the will to survive and preserve culture and moral
order still lives on in the hearts of Indians. They strongly
believed that harmony between man and the universe couldn’t
be achieved in battle. They still live with a vision of a world
without American dominance. The spirits of those in the past
are believed to live on. They watch over the Indians and
guide them as time passes and the Indians are further
stereotyped as drunks and crooked casino owners. Alas, the
ways of the Indians were replaced. Sacred hunting territories
gave way to railroads and ranches. Buffalo are an animal of
the past and often thought of as an animal of mysticism. Both
the buffalo and the Indian culture are romanticized in movies
that are neither truthful nor accurate. Stereotypes and
prejudices replaced unity and togetherness. Pollution haunts
every city on the planet. Respect of one’s fellow man gave
way to crimes unthought of by the Indians. They lived their
lives honorably. They died honorably. Even despite hardships
and misconceptions, they will continue to live honorably. That
is one thing the government can never take away from them.
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