When I was a boy, the Sioux owned the world. The sun rose
and set in their land; they sent ten thousand men into battle.
Where are the warriors today? Who slew them? Where are our
lands? Who owns them?
What white man can say I ever stole his land or a penny of
his money? Yet they say I am a thief.
What white woman, however lonely, was ever captive or insulted
by me? Yet they say I am a bad Indian.
What white man has ever seen me drunk ?
Who has ever come to me hungry and left me unfed ? Who has
ever seen me beat my wives or abuse my children? What law
have I broken?
Is it wrong of me to love my own? Is it wicked for me because
my skin is red? Because I am a Sioux? Because I was born where
my father lived? Because I would die for my people and my
country?
Sitting Bull - Teton Sioux
If the Great Spirit has desired me to be a white man he would
have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain
wishes and plans; in my heart he put other and different desires.
Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit. It is
not necessary for eagles to be crows. Now we are poor but
we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must
die, we die defending our rights.
Sitting Bull - Teton Sioux
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