Everything about you is in chains, and you are slaves yourselves.

In 1822, the United States invited a delegation of the Osage people to visit Washington, D.C., the government sought to woo and wow these people from the where the Ozarks meet the Plains with the glitz and glory of white man's civilization. Akidatonka (which was mistranslated into English as "Big Soldier")* saw what there was to see and shared these perceptions with the Indian Agent who interviewed him when he returned to his homelands.


I see and admire your manner of living, your good warm houses, your extensive corn-fields, your gardens, your cows, oxen, work-horses, wagons, and a thousand machines that I know not the use of; I see that you are able to clothe yourselves, even from weeds and grass. In short, you can do almost what you choose. You whites possess the power of [subduing] almost every animal [to your] use. You are surrounded by slaves. Everything about you is in chains, and you are slaves yourselves. I fear if I should exchange my pursuits for yours, i too should become a slave. Talk to my sons; perhaps they may be persuaded to adopt your fashions, or at least recommend them to their sons; but for myself, I was born free, was raised free, and wish to die free. . . I am perfectly contented with my condition.

Story cited in Spirit and Resistence: Political Theology and American Indian Liberation

* there are no soldiers in Osage society, the whole male population was responsible for defense of the community, Akidatonka is better translated as "large man who watches over the community."