The Proud Americans

Title: Indian chiefs who counciled with Gen. Miles and setteled [sic] the Indian War -- 1. Standing Bull, 2. Bear Who Looks Back Running [Stands and Looks Back], 3. Has the Big White Horse, 4. White Tail, 5. Liver [Living] Bear, 6. Little Thunder, 7. Bull Dog, 8. High Hawk, 9. Lame, 10. Eagle Pipe Group portrait of Lakota chiefs, five standing and five sitting with tipi in background--probably on or near Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 1891. Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

The Proud Americans
R. William Lindsey 2.7.2011

once a band of proud Americans
that hunted the lands
So wide open at the time in 1834
they chased the Buffalo
and called them Tunta..
a word that meant beast.

a peaceful people that honored
the Deer that ran
and the Birds that flew
in their world of quiet purity.

the proud Americans didn’t
understand the ways
of the White Man
and could not believe
the lies that came
from their mouths.

these proud Americans
were known as savages
and honored their
Mother and Father.

unlike the White Man
they told the truth
and blessed the animals
they had to kill
for food.

they shared
many campfires
to the
end.