We were taught generosity to the poor and reverence
for the Great Mystery. Religion was the basis for all
Indian training.
—Ohiyesa, Santee Sioux
Massa call them heathens
when them clean they naked flesh
with ice cold mountain water
before crawling backward
into a dark hot hole in the earth
like they crawling back in the woman
who first give them life
sit there an suffer in thick steamy darkness
with other naked men
just to sweat an pray
sweat an sing
sweat an sweat an sweat
all the while asking blessings for they family, yours
they enemy, the land, the water, plants
an all the animals them share the earth with.
Sitting in a river a sweat
be no more than bathing to the captains
but a blind man can see God
in everything the red man do.