Animal life Quote by Sitting Bull
““Behold, the Spring has come; the earth has received the embraces of the sun and we shall soon see the results of that love! Every seed is awakened and so has all animal life. It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being, and we therefore yield to our neighbors, even our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves, to inhabit this land. Yet, hear me, people, we have now to deal with another race – small and feeble when our fathers first met them but now great and overbearing. Strangely enough they have a mind to till the soil and the love of possession is a disease with them. These people have made many rules that the rich may break but the poor may not. They take their tithes from the poor and weak to support the rich and those who rule. They claim this mother of ours, the earth, for their own and fence their neighbors away; they deface her with their buildings and their refuse. The nation is like a spring freshet that overruns its banks and destroys all that are in its path. We cannot dwell side by side. Only seven years ago we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever. Now they threaten to take that away from us. My brothers, shall we submit or shall we say to them: 'First kill me before you take possession of my land””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to Lakota Nation, 1880s (approx.)
A warning about colonizers exploiting land and people, urging resistance to protect heritage and rights.
In simple terms: Beware of outsiders who take land and impose rules; defend your home.
Stand firm in protecting your land and culture.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- community activism
- environmental protection
- legal advocacy
- education
- solidarity
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can you take to protect your community’s resources?
- How can you support indigenous rights today?
The speech reflects a specific historical context; modern parallels may differ.