I Was Born Where There Were No

Since My Life As A Prisoner Has Begun I Have Heard The Teachings Of The White Man's Religion, And In Many Respects Believe It To Be Better Than The Religion Of My Fathers

When A Child My Mother Taught Me The Legends Of Our People; Taught Me Of The Sun And Sky, The Moon And Stars, The Clouds And Storms. She Also Taught Me To Kneel And Pray To Usen For Strength, Health, Wisdom, And Protection. We Never Prayed Against Any Person, But If We Had Aught Against Any Individual We Ourselves Took Vengeance. We Were Taught That Usen Does Not Care For The Petty Quarrels Of Men.

I Was Born Where There Were No Enclosures.

I Was Warmed By The Sun, Rocked By The Winds And Sheltered By The Trees As Other Indian Babes. I Can Go Everywhere With A Good Feeling.

I Cannot Think That We Are Useless Or God Would Not Have Created Us. There Is One God Looking Down On Us All. We Are All The Children Of One God. The Sun, The Darkness, The Winds Are All Listening To What We Have To Say.