Dennis Banks Quotes

“I have a Father's Day every day.”

— Dennis Banks

“It also called upon traditional people in the Four Directions to strengthen the healing ceremonies and asked people to heed the warnings of Mother Earth.”

— Dennis Banks

Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us.

— Dennis Banks

“The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us.”

— Dennis Banks

“I'm on this road for the rest of my life.”

— Dennis Banks

“When you have a spiritual foundation, you look at poverty differently then.”

— Dennis Banks

“And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing.”

— Dennis Banks

“Every man should see the birth of his children.”

— Dennis Banks

“Even the people who come our way look upon us in amazement, that we run only for the healing of Mother Earth.”

— Dennis Banks

“Most importantly, the meaning of spirituality lays the seeds for our destiny and the path we must follow.”

— Dennis Banks

“To be selected was an honor, and in respect of the family member chosen to run, families held feasts and gave away prized beaver coats, quilled tobacco bags and buffalo hides.”

— Dennis Banks

“In 1978, the tradition of running from village to village with a message was revived. that first run was from Davis to Los Angeles, a distance of 500 miles.”

— Dennis Banks

“It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways.”

— Dennis Banks

“In 1967 the last Unity Caravan was held.”

— Dennis Banks

“In 1990 we ran across Europe through 13 countries and covering 7,130 miles.”

— Dennis Banks

“Many young Japanese were hearing for the first time the words of Native people from the West.”

— Dennis Banks

“The Canadian run can be no different, at least in terms of actual running.”

— Dennis Banks

When we arrived in Japan in 1988, we were not prepared for the overwhelming support shown to us.

— Dennis Banks

What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride.

— Dennis Banks