1.
May the stars carry your sadness away, may the flowers fill your heart with beauty, may hope forever wipe away your tears. And, above all, may silence make you strong.
Chief Dan George
May the night sky alleviate your sorrow, may the blossoms bring you splendor, may trust perpetually erase your weeping. And, most of all, may quietude give you resilience.
2.
One thing to remember is to talk to the animals. If you do, they will talk back to you. But if you don't talk to the animals, they won't talk back to you, then you won't understand, and when you don't understand you will fear, and when you fear you will destroy the animals, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
Chief Dan George
3.
There is a longing among all people and creatures to have a sense of purpose and worth. To satisfy that common longing in all of us we must respect each other.
Chief Dan George
All beings have a shared yearning to feel meaningful and valued. To appease this universal desire, we must demonstrate deference towards one another.
4.
The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air, the fragrance of the grass, they speak to me. The summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky, the rhythm of the sea, speaks to me. The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning, the dewdrop on the flower, speaks to me. The strength of the fire, the taste of the salmon, the trail of the sun, and the life that never goes away, they speak to me. And my heart soars.
Chief Dan George
5.
Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because without it we become weak and faint. Without love our self-esteem weakens. Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look out confidently at the world.
Chief Dan George
6.
The time will soon be here when my grandchild will long for the cry of a loon, the flash of a salmon, the whisper of spruce needles, or the screech of an eagle. But he will not make friends with any of these creatures and when his heart aches with longing, he will curse me. Have I done all to keep the air fresh? Have I cared enough about the water? Have I left the eagle to soar in freedom? Have I done everything I could to earn my grandchild's fondness?
Chief Dan George
7.
First we had the land and they had the Bibles, now we have the Bibles and they have the land
Chief Dan George
'At first, they had the scriptures while we possessed the territory, now they possess the terrain while we have the sacred texts.'
8.
If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.
Chief Dan George
9.
The heart never knows the colour of the skin
Chief Dan George
The soul never perceives the complexion of one's exterior.
10.
We have taken so much from your culture, I wish you had taken something from ours...For there were some beautiful and good things within it. Perhaps now that the time has come, We are fearful that what you take will be lost.... I shall grab the instruments of the white man's success: His education, his skills, and society.
Chief Dan George
11.
Of all the teachings we receive, this one is most important: Nothing belongs to you of what there is, of what you take, you must share.
Chief Dan George
'The most crucial lesson to learn is that nothing can be claimed as your own; whatever you acquire must be shared with others.'
12.
Can we talk of integration until there is integration of hearts and minds? Unless you have this, you only have a physical presence, and the walls between us are as high as the mountain range.
Chief Dan George
Can we discuss amalgamation until there is unification of emotions and ideas? Unless you have this, you only possess a corporeal existence, and the barriers between us are as immense as the mountain range.
13.
My friends, how desperately we need to be loved and to love. With it we are creative. With it we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others.
Chief Dan George
My companions, how urgently we need to be treasured and to cherish. With it we are inventive. With it we march indefatigably. With it, and with it exclusively, we are capable of offering ourselves up for others.
14.
If the legends fall silent, who will teach the children of our ways?
Chief Dan George
If the tales are forgotten, who will impart the traditions to future generations?
15.
Oh God! Like the thunderbird of old I shall rise again out of the sea; I shall grab the instruments of the white man’s success - his education, his skills, and with these new tools I shall build my race into the proudest segment of your society.
Chief Dan George
16.
We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive.
Chief Dan George
'Our vigor is directly proportional to our stewardship of the planet.'
17.
If the very old will remember, the very young will listen.
Chief Dan George
If the wise of years recall, the inexperienced will heed.
18.
Where no one intrudes, many can live in harmony.
Chief Dan George
"Wherein no one meddles, many can coexist in accord."
19.
Love is something we must have. We must have it because our spirits feed upon it.
Chief Dan George
20.
The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning, the dewdrop on the flower, speaks to me.
Chief Dan George