Charles Eastman
Charles Eastman
Charles Alexander Eastmanwas a Santee Dakota physician educated at Boston University, writer, national lecturer, and reformer. In the early 20th century, he was "one of the most prolific authors and speakers on Sioux ethnohistory and American Indian affairs."...
NationalitySioux
ProfessionScreenwriter
Date of Birth18 September 1929
family unit
The family was not only the social unit, but also the unit of government.
acquainted deny home
No one who is at all acquainted with the Indian in his home can deny that we are a polite people.
deed either given indian names nicknames playful religious symbolic
Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a playful spirit, deed names, birth names, or such as have a religious and symbolic meaning.
mark true
But to have a friend, and to be true under any and all trials, is the mark of a man!
temples
There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature.
found men professed religion seeking spoke white
More than this, even in those white men who professed religion we found much inconsistency of conduct. They spoke much of spiritual things, while seeking only the material.
chief clan larger natural several union voluntary
The clan is nothing more than a larger family, with its patriarchal chief as the natural head, and the union of several clans by intermarriage and voluntary connection constitutes the tribe.
contact cruelty dark effect increase shadows whites
It is noteworthy that the first effect of contact with the whites was an increase of cruelty and barbarity, an intensifying of the dark shadows in the picture!
daily duty indian inevitable life prayer unseen
In the life of the Indian there was only one inevitable duty, - the duty of prayer - the daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternal.
affection capable durable guests presence though
Our people, though capable of strong and durable feeling, were not demonstrative in their affection at any time, least of all in the presence of guests or strangers.
convinced enemy honor met royal trust
Yet, if an enemy should honor us with a call, his trust will not be misplaced, and he will go away convinced that he has met with a royal host!
desire founded friend instinct love mark trials true
Love between a man and a woman is founded on the mating instinct and is not free from desire and self-seeking. But to have a friend and to be true under any and all trials is the mark of a man!
awe elements forces majestic regarded secondary spiritual
The elements and majestic forces in nature, Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, and Frost, were regarded with awe as spiritual powers, but always secondary and intermediate in character.
commonly felt keeps nature sensitive spirit touch unseen
Nearness to nature... keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt and in touch with the unseen powers.