--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were told that they wished merely to…" description: "\"We were told that they wished merely to pass through our country. . . to seek for gold in the far west . . . Yet before the ashes of the council are co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/red-cloud-32664_american-indian_we-were-told-that-they-wished-merely-to_2935967.jpg" --- # We were told that they wished merely to pass through our… ![“We were told that they wished merely to pass through our country. . . to seek for gold in the far west . . . Yet before the ashes of the council are cold, the Great Father is building his forts among us. . . . His presence here is . . . an insult to the spirits of our ancestors. Are we then to…” quote by Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/red-cloud-32664_american-indian_we-were-told-that-they-wished-merely-to_2935967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/red-cloud-32664_american-indian_we-were-told-that-they-wished-merely-to_2935967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/red-cloud-32664_american-indian_we-were-told-that-they-wished-merely-to_2935967.jpg) > “We were told that they wished merely to pass through our country. . . to seek for gold in the far west . . . Yet before the ashes of the council are cold, the Great Father is building his forts among us. . . . His presence here is . . . an insult to the spirits of our ancestors. Are we then to give up their sacred graves to be allowed for corn?” [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker condemns colonizers who claim peaceful passage while exploiting resources and disrespecting sacred sites. **In simple terms:** Colonizers claim peace but exploit and disrespect sacred lands. Key Takeaway Protect ancestral lands and resist exploitation. Themes colonialism spirituality environment resistance Mood defiant protective Type political historical When to use this quote - government negotiations - land disputes - heritage preservation Key Concepts cultural heritage land rights colonial exploitation Questions to Reflect On - How can sacred sites be legally protected? - What compromises are acceptable to both sides? A Different Perspective Colonial powers may argue economic benefit over cultural loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Forts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [To us, the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/to-us-the-ashes-of-our-ancestors-are-sacred-and-their-resting-place/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [Look at me. I was a warrior on this land where the sun rises, now I come from where the sun sets. Whose voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/look-at-me-i-was-a-warrior-on-this-land-where-the-sun-rises-now-i/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [ “Whose voice was first sounded on this land? The voice of the red people who had but bows and arrows. \[...\] What has been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/whose-voice-was-first-sounded-on-this-land-the-voice-of-the-red/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [A man's worth is measured by how he parents his children. What he gives them, what he keeps away from them, the lessons he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-rogers/a-man-s-worth-is-measured-by-how-he-parents-his-children-what-he/) Lisa Rogers > [It was my father who taught me to value myself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/it-was-my-father-who-taught-me-to-value-myself/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [“How great is a Father's love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father's heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/how-great-is-a-father-s-love-to-his-children-that-which-friendship/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [I got my dad a great father's Day present. He called to say: 'Ach. Zis present is so good I now think it vas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/i-got-my-dad-a-great-father-s-day-present-he-called-to-say-ach-zis/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [Usually women are the lynchpins of the family. They carry the brunt of the work at home and of being mothers and of taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-maloney/usually-women-are-the-lynchpins-of-the-family-they-carry-the-brunt-of/) [Carolyn Maloney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-maloney/) > [God is so much nicer than you can imagine. I know "nice" is an odd word, but He loved you enough to die for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lowry/god-is-so-much-nicer-than-you-can-imagine-i-know-nice-is-an-odd-word/) [Mark Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lowry/) > [“God is so boundlessly pleased with Jesus that in him he is altogether well pleased with us. Accepted Of The Great Father, Volume 29,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccaskell/god-is-so-boundlessly-pleased-with-jesus-that-in-him-he-is-altogether/) Stephen McCaskell > [You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-cosby/you-know-fathers-just-have-a-way-of-putting-everything-together/) Erika Cosby > [More than anything, you want to be considered a great father and a role model, especially for your kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-o-neal/more-than-anything-you-want-to-be-considered-a-great-father-and-a/) [Jermaine O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-o-neal/) > [This is the price you pay for having a great father. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments - and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/this-is-the-price-you-pay-for-having-a-great-father-you-get-the/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [He wasn't a great father. He was a great musician. That's always been a touchy one, and it will be until I can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-lennon/he-wasn-t-a-great-father-he-was-a-great-musician-that-s-always-been-a/) [Julian Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-lennon/) ## More by Red Cloud > [ “Whose voice was first sounded on this land? The voice of the red people who had but bows and arrows. \[...\] What has been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/whose-voice-was-first-sounded-on-this-land-the-voice-of-the-red/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [Look at me. I was a warrior on this land where the sun rises, now I come from where the sun sets. Whose voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/look-at-me-i-was-a-warrior-on-this-land-where-the-sun-rises-now-i/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [When I was a young man, I was poor. In a war with other nations, I was in eighty-seven fights. There I received my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/when-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-poor-in-a-war-with-other-nations-i-was/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [“I am poor and naked but I am the chief of a nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/i-am-poor-and-naked-but-i-am-the-chief-of-a-nation-we-do-not-want/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [The white man has got the gold out of the land which belonged to the red man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/the-white-man-has-got-the-gold-out-of-the-land-which-belonged-to-the/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [The Great Spirit will not make me suffer because I am ignorant. He will put me in a place where I shall be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/the-great-spirit-will-not-make-me-suffer-because-i-am-ignorant-he/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [The whites are the same everywhere. I see them every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/the-whites-are-the-same-everywhere-i-see-them-every-day/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [Even if you live forty or fifty years in this world, and then die, you cannot take all your goods with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/even-if-you-live-forty-or-fifty-years-in-this-world-and-then-die-you/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our land, and they did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/they-made-us-many-promises-more-than-i-can-remember-but-they-kept/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [“There was no hope on earth, and God seemed to have forgotten us. Some said they saw the Son of God; others did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/there-was-no-hope-on-earth-and-god-seemed-to-have-forgotten-us-some/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [We do not want riches, we want peace and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/we-do-not-want-riches-we-want-peace-and-love/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [The whites, who are educated and civilized, swindle me, and I am not hard to swindle because I do not know how to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/the-whites-who-are-educated-and-civilized-swindle-me-and-i-am-not/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [You whites make all the ammunition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/you-whites-make-all-the-ammunition/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) > [I hope the Great Heavenly Father, who will look down upon us, will give all the tribes his blessing, that we may go forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-cloud/i-hope-the-great-heavenly-father-who-will-look-down-upon-us-will-give/) [Red Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) [Explore all 15 Red Cloud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-cloud/) ## More American indian quotes > [I told my friend - we were working on a movie together - and he gave me a script and asked me to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/i-told-my-friend-we-were-working-on-a-movie-together-and-he-gave-me-a/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [Language is decanted and shared. If only one person is left alive speaking a language - the case with some American Indian languages -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/language-is-decanted-and-shared-if-only-one-person-is-left-alive/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Humor is widely used by Indians to deal with life. Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-am-tired-of-talk-that-comes-to-nothing-it-makes-my-heart-sick-when/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There are more American Indians alive today than there were when Columbus arrived or at any other time in history. Does this sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-more-american-indians-alive-today-than-there-were-when/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Next time!' In what calendar are kept the records of those next times which never come?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/next-time-in-what-calendar-are-kept-the-records-of-those-next-times/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-think-awards-in-this-country-at-this-time-are-inappropriate-to-be/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/so-one-of-the-things-i-was-doing-with-the-aliens-in-the-quiet/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I've always considered myself a man of integrity as a leader of the American Indian Movement and of Indian people. I will stand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-means/i-ve-always-considered-myself-a-man-of-integrity-as-a-leader-of-the/) [Russell Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-means/) > [“The white man will never be alone. Let him be just, and deal kindly with my people. For the dead are not powerless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/the-white-man-will-never-be-alone-let-him-be-just-and-deal-kindly/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [Would movie moguls release a film portraying Adolph Hitler as a great benefactor of the Jews? Hardly. Would they release a movie if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-wildmon/would-movie-moguls-release-a-film-portraying-adolph-hitler-as-a-great/) Donald Wildmon > [If ever we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down till that tribe is exterminated, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-ever-we-are-constrained-to-lift-the-hatchet-against-any-tribe-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Now Christianity sounded good at first to the naive convert. Love, peace and charity - what's wrong with that? I'll tell you what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/now-christianity-sounded-good-at-first-to-the-naive-convert-love/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 174 American indian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were told that they wished merely to pass through our country. . . to seek for gold in the far west . . . Yet before the ashes of the council are cold, the Great Father is building his forts among us. . . . His presence here is . . . an insult to the spirits of our ancestors. 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