Great father Quote by Dee Brown
“Whose voice was first sounded on this land? The voice of the red people who had but bows and arrows. . . .What has been done in my country I did not want, did not ask for it; white people going through my country. . . . When the white man comes in my country he leaves a trail of blood behind him. . . . I have two mountains in that country---the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountain. I want the Great Father to make no roads through them. I have told these things three times; now I have come here to tell them the fourth time. --MAHPIUA LUTA (RED CLOUD) OF THE OGLALA SIOUX”
About This Quote
Source Book: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, 1970
Indigenous peoples resist colonization and demand respect for sacred lands, warning of violence caused by white expansion.
In simple terms: Native voices protest broken promises and land theft.
Protect sacred places and honor indigenous rights.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- land protection
- policy advocacy
- education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can allies effectively support indigenous sovereignty?
- What policies can prevent further exploitation?
Change often requires confronting entrenched power structures, which can be dangerous.