Gros Ventre Stories, concluded.
The Gros Ventre Creed
By Ray Gone, Sr.
From the Fort Belknap Tribal Archives
While he believed in the miracle of creation, he accepted the idea of one Supreme Spirit, who was everywhere all the time; whose help was needed continually, and might be accrued by prayer and sacrifice.
He believed in the immortality of the soul, and that it's future condition was to be determined by it's behavior in this life.
He revered his body as the sacred temple of his spirituality; and believed it his duty in all ways to perfect his body so that his earthly record might be better.
He believed in reverence for his parents, and in old age supported them, even as he expected his children to support him.
He believed in the sacredness of property. Theft among Indians was unknown.
He believed that the murderer must expiate his crime with his life; that the nearest of kin was the proper avenger, but that for accidental manslaughter compensation might be made in goods.
He believed in cleanliness of body.
He believed in purity of morals.
He believed in speaking th truth and nothing but the truth. His promise was absolutely binding. He hated and despised a liar, and held all falsehood to be an abomination.
He believed in beautifying all things in his life. He had a song for every occasion, a beautiful prayer for every stress. His garments were made beautiful with painted patterns, feathers and quillwork. He had a dance for every fireside. He has led the world in the making of beautiful baskets and blankets, while the decorations he put on his lodges, weapons, clothes, dishes and the dwellings, beds, cradles, or graveboard were among the countless evidences of his pleasure in the beautiful, as he understood it.
He believed in the simple life. He held first, that land belonged to the tribe, not the individual; next, that the accumulation of property was the beginning of greed that grew into a monstrous crime.
He believed in peace and the sacred obligation of hospitality.
He believed that the noblest of virtues was courage, and that above all other qualities, he worshipped and prayed for. So also, he believed that the most shameful of crimes was being afraid.
He believed that he should live his life that the fear of death could never enter his heart; that when the last call came he should put on the paint and honors of a hero home, then sing his death song and meet the end in triumph.
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