Alice Walker, Cherokee, and the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple, once said that the “most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.

”Here are seven more sayings on power and the inner spirit -- from elders and young ones -- that you can’t take for granted.

“Take care of your mind. Watch your words, they are really powerful. Same with your bodies. Take care of yourself. You are very powerful.” — Sam Benally, Navajo

“One of the things the old people taught me about the spirits was to never have a doubt.” — Wallace Black Elk, Lakota



“So we are connected to the moon. That gives us power — a connection to the Earth and the moon — that men don't know about.” — Cecilia Mitchell, Mohawk


“We are living in a time when we all need to come together and help one another. The spirits say we need to learn to get along.” —  Lakota

“That spiritual power I wear is much more beautiful and much greater. We call it wisdom, knowledge, power and gift or love. There are these four parts to that spiritual power. I wear those. When you wear that power it will beautify your mind and spirit. You become beautiful. Everything that Tunkashila creates is beautiful.” — Wallace Black Elk, Lakota


“When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earth, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man.” — Chased By Bears, Santee Lakota


“The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.” — Luther Standing Bear