H. M. Sisler, Jr.~Shawnee

When I sleep

I dream of my people;

In battles long ago.

I see their pain,

Their anger,

Their sorrow.

"I CRY IN MY SLEEP"

The Spirit of our people

Who lived long ago,

Still lives.

"BUT ONLY IN OUR DREAMS"

Geronimo~Apache

"While living I want to live well.

I know I have to die sometime,

but even if the heavens were to fall on me

I want to do what is right.

There is only one God looking down on us all.

We are all children of the one God.

God is listening to me.

The sun,

the darkness,

the winds,

all are listening

to what we now say..."

Tecumseh~Shawnee

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and

Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,

Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and

Its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,

Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and

Bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and

For the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks,

The fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no living thing,

For abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts

Are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes

They weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again

In a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

Pawnee Prayer

Oh, Eagle, come with wings outspread in sunny skies.

Oh, Eagle, come and bring us peace, thy gentle peace.

Oh, Eagle, come and give new life to us who pray.

Remember the circle of the sky, the stars, and the brown eagle, the great life of the Sun, the

wing within the nest. Remember the sacredness of things.