Talk:Bauzhi-Geezhig-Waeshikum

Izhtwaawin
"Brothers and friends, I arise to shake hands with you, not only with my hands, but with my heart also do I shake hands with you. Brothers and friends, the Great Spirit who made the earth, the waters, and everything that exists has brought us together to shake hands with each other. Brothers and friends, I have listened to your words that you have spoken to us this day. I will now tell you what is in my heart. Brothers and friends, the Great Spirit made us all; he made the white man, and he made the Indian. When the Great Spirit made the white man, he gave him his worship, written in a book, and prepared a place for his soul in heaven above. He also gave him his mode of preparing and administering medicine to the sick different from that of the Indians. Brothers and friends, when he Great Spirit made the Indian he gave him his mode of worship, and the manner of administering and using medicine to the sick. The Great Spirit gave the Indian to know the virtue of roots and plants to preserve life; and by attending to these things our lives are preserved. Brothers and friends, I will tell you what happened to some of our forefathers that once became Christians. I have been informed that when the white people first came to this country, our fathers said to one another, Come brothers, let us worship like our white brothers. They did so, and threw away all that their fathers had told them to do, and forsook the path that their fathers had pointed out to them to walk in. When they had thrown away the religion of their fathers, sickness came among them, and most every one of them died, and but a few escaped death. Again, since my own recollection, there was one man who came among the Indians at the River Miami, who told them the Great Spirit was angry with them on account of their witchcraft and living in the way of their forefathers. They listened to this babbler, and threw away all their medicines, all their pouches, and all their medicine bags, and everything they used in their arts into the river. They had no sooner done this than great sickness came among them also, and but few escaped death of them that had taken heed to the words of this babbler. Now, brothers and friends, if I should follow the example of those that once worshipped like the white man I should expect to incur the anger of the Great Spirit, and share the same fate of them that perished. I will therefore remain as I am, and sit down alone and worship in that way that the Munedoo Spirit appointed our forefathers to do and to observe. Brothers and friends, how can I, who have grown old in sins and in drunkenness, break off from these things, when the white people are as bad and wicked as the Indians. I saw Yesterday two white men, Christians, got drunk quarreled and fought with one another, and one of them is now on the Island with a black eye. Brothers and friends, what you have said concerning: the evil effects of the fire-waters are very true. Strong drink has made us poor and destroyed our lives. Brothers and friends, I am poor and hardly able to buy enough cloth for a pair of leggings, and wherewith would I be able to buy cloth enough for a pair of pantaloons to dress me like the white man, if I should become a Christian or live like the white man? Brothers and friends, I am glad to see you as native brethren, but will not become a Christian. This is all I have to say." 2600:1700:F3B0:12A0:5526:B75:C02B:6BAB (talk) 08:07, 6 January 2022 (UTC)