Dennis Banks Quotations

It also called upon traditional people in the Four Directions to strengthen the healing ceremonies and asked people to heed the warnings of Mother Earth.

Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species...

The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us.

I'm on this road for the rest of my life.

When you have a spiritual foundation, you look at poverty differently then.

And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing.

Every man should see the birth of his children

Even the people who come our way look upon us in amazement, that we run only for the healing of Mother Earth

Most importantly, the meaning of spirituality lays the seeds for our destiny and the path we must follow.

To be selected was an honor, and in respect of the family member chosen to run, families held feasts and gave away prized beaver coats, quilled tobacco bags and buffalo hides.

In 1978, the tradition of running from village to village with a message was revived. that first run was from Davis to Los Angeles, a distance of 500 miles

It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways.

In 1967 the last Unity Caravan was held.

Many young Japanese were hearing for the first time the words of Native people from the West.

The Canadian run can be no different, at least in terms of actual running.

When we arrived in Japan in 1988, we were not prepared for the overwhelming support shown to us.

In 1990 we ran across Europe through 13 countries and covering 7,130 miles.

I have a Father's Day every day

What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride.

When the run is over, there will be a closing ceremony and the runners will return to the many distant lands from which they came.

I would like to be a spectator today, but they gave me a t-shirt and they gave me some sticks and I'll probably get in there one play, but I'm not a player.

We're bringing hope. I think that's all that we can do. And somebody was caring for them. There's a lot of people been down there that are bringing hope and we were just one of them.

This strikes to the foundation of who we are. There is deep deep pain.

The fact that these teachers are willing to share their time is important, and we are very grateful.

At the first gathering of the Elders' Circle in 1976, a statement was issued concerning the unique balance between Humankind and our Mother Earth.

Rather than point fingers at corporations, we came to the conclusion that we should strengthen our own ceremonies, strengthen what we do.

Then a strong bond develops as they ride together, pray together, eat meals together, and gather in the evening remembering the day's run.

For 27 years, it meant only one thing. And we carry a message about the life on this planet and the quality of it is sacred. Very simple, but sometimes complex.

In 1990 we ran across Europe through 13 countries and covering 7,130 miles.

An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong.