by Patrick Watters

First nations people groups historically did a much better job of creation care than western man does. This has been true of Native Americans, Polynesians and others. Finding all created things as sacred, they cared for that which the Creator provided to fulfill their every need; food, shelter, and clothing.

As an example, take the Buffalo (N.A. Bison), hunted to near extinction by "white men", but revered by Lakota peoples. The Buffalo was thought to have been provided by the Creator to save the Lakota people when they were forced to migrate to the Great Plains of North America. Each taking of a Buffalo by a Lakota warrior was followed by a ceremony of thanksgiving, and every part of the animal was used to provide food, shelter, clothing and more. No more was ever taken than was needed, and this was true of both plants and animals.

Care of the land and its inhabitants was taught to children from an early age, both orally and in practical daily life. Finally, it also interesting to note that when Jesuits introduced Jesus to the Lakota, many welcomed Him as an old friend that they had been expecting.

Colossians 1:15-20