Animal Quote by Black Elk
“Once we were happy in our own country and we were seldom hungry, for then the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds lived together like relatives, and there was plenty for them and for us. But the Wasichus came, and they have made little islands for us and other little islands for the four-leggeds, and always these islands are becoming smaller, for around them surges the gnawing flood of the Wasichu; and it is dirty with lies and greed.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Oral tradition of Lakota people, 19th century
Traditional harmony broke when external forces divided peoples, creating scarcity and conflict.
In simple terms: The arrival of outsiders disrupted shared abundance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist forces that divide communities.
Themes
community
resource sharing
colonialism
conflict
environment
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- settlement
- resource management
- environmental policy
- indigenous rights
- colonial impact
Key Concepts
sustainability
inequality
cultural erosion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do external pressures reshape community bonds?
- What can restore shared abundance?
A Different Perspective
Dividing groups can also foster new alliances and resilience.
![“No one [Islanders] trod easily upon the emotions of another where the sea licked everywhere against an endless shoreline. And this was excellent and poor at the same time-excellent because it meant most people took care, poor because it meant an inbreeding of the spirit, too much held in, regret…” quote by David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d68/david-guterson-8456_quote_no-one-islanders-trod-easily-upon-the-em_1613381.jpg)
