The wisdom of Native people is a living testament not only to the spirit of strength, endurance, and hope that they have embodied through the ages but also to the men and women in varied fields of endeavor who continue to leave an indelible mark on the world.
In Essential Native Wisdom, Carol Kelly-Gangi has compiled hundreds of powerful quotations from an extraordinary group of people from the mid-1700s to the present day. There are excerpts from political and spiritual leaders; writers and poets; activists and artists; warriors and statesmen; scholars and historians; actors and athletes; and musicians and orators. It's a wide-ranging collection that is enlightening and engaging, with insights including the following:

Sitting Bull eloquently reveals the devastating hardship his people endured at the hands of the white leaders who sought to destroy their way of life.

Winona LaDuke vividly recalls traditions from her people, passed down from generation to...