Poetry
Beautiful poetry written about the movement.
A Native Change by Salynne Colobong
Native American tipi
Change comes quickly.
In the pupil of my eyes I saw violence, and a lack of peace.
Peace between natives and white people.
As I grew up I learned the way of my people.
I was taught traditional dances and singing with passion and laughter.
They taught me not to trust white people.
But then...
Change came quickly
I came out one morning. I heard of the great news: peace.
Peace with the white people.
I saw many tribes, many whites. Together.
Peace was made and then...
Change came quickly
How Long Will We Wait? by Jessica Manalang
Native Americans believed that no one had the right to own, trade, or sell land.
How long will we wait
Until we’re out of the dark?
When will we be able to sing, dance, and laugh
Like in the old days?
We don’t want to worry about the hatred of the whites.
When can we stop counting the bruises
Left on our arms due to police persecution?
I thought they were supposed to be protecting U.S. citizens.
How long will it take until the land can reclaim itself
before it becomes spoiled?
How long will we wait
Until we’ll finally be treated like any other U.S. citizen
In “the land of the free”?
How long will we wait?
Aboriginal Sin by Leonard Peltier
Picture of Leonard Peltier
We each begin in innocence.
We all become guilty.
In this life you find yourself guilty
of being who you are.
Being yourself, that's Aboriginal Sin.
the worst sin of all.
That's a sin you'll never be forgiven for.
We Indians are all guilty,
guilty of being ourselves.
We're taught that guilt from the day we're born.
We learn it well.
To each of my brothers and sisters, I say,
be proud of that guilt.
You are guilty only of being innocent,
of being yourselves,
of being Indian,
of being human
Your guilt makes you holy.