Luther Standing Bear

Sweet fragrance of the land, herbs and
roots and medicines long lost to the general popu-
lace, are nonetheless as present as they always have
been. We have been so taken with miracle cures,
these things have been put away as folklore and not
dependable. The simple people at one time had no
other alternative--so runs the present-day popular
notion.
Hard-fought battles over who is to pay for
the miracle medicines--and we are grateful for
most of them--may turn a venturesome soul back
to the soil and back to those things that heal a mind
and body without being asked for proof of insur-
ance. But one other thing far too ignored is the
power of prayer. No Indian is remiss in blessing his
body and soul and spirit because he knows they
work together. His prayer is not now and again but
regular and potent.

The lack of respect for growing, living things soon
let to lack of respect for humans too.
LUTHER STANDING BEAR
LAKOTA

Artist: Howard Terpning