Native American Strong

Apache man at Navaho Rio, Arizona. 1904-1910.

“The Sacred Buffalo: Heart of the Land”
In Native cultures, the buffalo is a symbol of abundance, gratitude, and deep connection to the Earth. Every part of the animal was used by Indigenous communities — not out of need alone, but out of respect. It gave life so others could live.
The intricate patterns across its body in this artwork echo the winds of the plains, the flow of rivers, and the flames of spirit. The red symbolizes life and ceremony. The turquoise flows like water and sky, bringing cleansing and renewal. The black grounds the image, representing strength, endurance, and the eternal memory of ancestors.
This buffalo stands not just as an animal, but as an ancestor, a guardian, a teacher. Its presence reminds us of a time when balance between human and nature was not just honored — it was necessary.
In today’s world, the buffalo calls us to remember our roots, to protect what is sacred, and to walk in gratitude for the gifts of the Earth.

Think on pleasant things. Deliberately turn your thoughts to something pleasant when the pressures are too intense. And be careful as undisciplined thought quickly sifts back to the unhappy, unsettled mind. The greater part of the time we are victims of our emotions. They play havoc with our peace of mind and are great friends of pessimism. They tell us things are true with such sincerity that we believe them into fact. They convince us things are a certain way and that we cannot remedy them with any amount of effort. But stop where you are and consider what it is you are listening to and how it affects your feelings. Do a turnabout and take the positive route of deliberately replacing thoughts of unhappiness, injustices, and misunderstandings with the thought that these are merely chariots to carry us past all that has withheld freedom.