Life Quote by Frank Bird Linderman
““The girls were taught by their mothers and grandmothers to look seriously upon life, to shun the frivolous, and to avoid giggling. With the Blackfeet, women “gave” the sun-dances, the most sacred of their religious ceremonies; and because the “givers” of these sun-dances must have lived exemplary lives to have dared offer dances to the sun, they were forever afterward highly honored by both the men and women of the tribe.””
About This Quote
Source Anthology: Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest, 1915
Women’s moral authority and reverence for sacred rites earn them lasting respect in the tribe.
In simple terms: Mothers teach seriousness; women honored for sacred duties.
Key Takeaway
Respect those who uphold cultural values.
Themes
family
tradition
gender roles
Mood
respectful
reflective
Type
anthropological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- community rituals
- intergenerational teaching
- cultural preservation
- gender studies
Key Concepts
cultural transmission
spiritual leadership
social honor
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural teachings shape gender expectations?
- What can we learn from honoring sacred responsibilities?
A Different Perspective
Modern contexts may reinterpret these roles.
![“Last summer we had eight people in the [Christian] congregation who danced four different sun dances. Of course the missionaries have said all along that those ceremonies are pagan and we can't do that. Our people insist that they are free in the gospel, free in Christ Jesus, to participate in…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/43d/anonymous-1_ceremony_last-summer-we-had-eight-people-in-the-c_2927218.jpg)
