Respect was (and still is) a big thing with Native American Indians. If a man, woman, or even an enemy was worthy of respect, they respected them. It may seem strange to engage in a battle with someone, to kill them and STILL show respect, but if an enemy fought well, he may be killed during the ensuing fight, but afterwards was treated with respect.
I read of such an incident in Wyoming where a cavalry unit was overwhelmed by a much larger force of Indian warriors. The battle didn't last long but, as the story goes, the bugler didn't seem to have a weapon...just his bugle, but in his own defense he was mounting a ferocious counter attack with just the trumpet in his hand. He was killed, along with the rest but when it came to taking hair(scalping) from the rest, the bugler was spared. He was buried with his hair still on his head. He had fought and died bravely and the Indians admired that. Years later, after a big pow wow in Laramie, warriors that remembered that fight and that brave bugler, went out of their way on the return trip home, to show honor to that fallen Bugler.
On another show of respect, comes the story of young Crow Indian boy, who decided to prove his manhood by sneaking into an enemy camp and to steal some horses. Back in those days, it was considered brave, but an extremely dangerous sport. Especially, if you got caught...
It was a very cold winter night and he knew that most would be huddled in their teepees to keep warm.He got into the camp, undetected, acquired a couple of nice ponies and was well on his way back out of the camp. It seemed his luck was with him that night. He had almost reached the camp's edge when he saw a old Grandmother, arms full of firewood and struggling to make her way back to the tent. All he could think of, seeing her struggling, was his own grandmother, so he just had to help. He momentarily tied the horses, and ran to help Grandmother. As surprised as she must have been to see this Crow boy in their camp, she accepted his help with the wood, In no time, they made it to Grandmother's teepee and she was safe with her firewood. It was then he turned and realized..he had been caught...
It must have been a frightening moment for the young man, but what he had done, saved his life. His captors told him BECAUSE of his respect for Grandmother, he had earned a free passage out and a chance to live another day...But, don't ever come back...
Although the American Indian lived, often, on the very edge of existence, they respected the land, the animals, all of what the Creator had given them. Even though they relied on the buffalo, rabbits, and a variety of animals for their subsistence, they always showed respect(and more or less apologized and thanked) the creatures they were about to kill and eat. What must be done, must be done, but with respect...
I read of such an incident in Wyoming where a cavalry unit was overwhelmed by a much larger force of Indian warriors. The battle didn't last long but, as the story goes, the bugler didn't seem to have a weapon...just his bugle, but in his own defense he was mounting a ferocious counter attack with just the trumpet in his hand. He was killed, along with the rest but when it came to taking hair(scalping) from the rest, the bugler was spared. He was buried with his hair still on his head. He had fought and died bravely and the Indians admired that. Years later, after a big pow wow in Laramie, warriors that remembered that fight and that brave bugler, went out of their way on the return trip home, to show honor to that fallen Bugler.
It was a very cold winter night and he knew that most would be huddled in their teepees to keep warm.He got into the camp, undetected, acquired a couple of nice ponies and was well on his way back out of the camp. It seemed his luck was with him that night. He had almost reached the camp's edge when he saw a old Grandmother, arms full of firewood and struggling to make her way back to the tent. All he could think of, seeing her struggling, was his own grandmother, so he just had to help. He momentarily tied the horses, and ran to help Grandmother. As surprised as she must have been to see this Crow boy in their camp, she accepted his help with the wood, In no time, they made it to Grandmother's teepee and she was safe with her firewood. It was then he turned and realized..he had been caught...
It must have been a frightening moment for the young man, but what he had done, saved his life. His captors told him BECAUSE of his respect for Grandmother, he had earned a free passage out and a chance to live another day...But, don't ever come back...
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