People oppress people all over the world, but few have felt oppression like the American Indians. Stereotypes have tormented them since the arrival of the first Europeans who enveloped the false beliefs of the natives. Some of these ideas may be true for some tribes, but there are far too many tribes and cultures to lump them all into one. Tribes in one part of the country eat, dress, and celebrate in very different ways than tribes in another part. Although Native Americans are a diverse group, their core beliefs in Earth, creation, and peace are consistent throughout the people. Every person has an idea about something much bigger than themselves. Whether it is Mother Earth, God, or the cosmos, man clings to something greater. Native Americans consider Mother Earth closer to them than anything. Everything they do revolves around the earth. The Iroquois Constitution even makes special mention of "making an address and offering thanks for the land where men dwell", as well as making offerings to the lakes, fruits, forest and animals (Dekanawida 56) . This love can cause conflicts with the Western world where production takes precedence over any value of natural beauty. In Lame Deer, Montana, the Northern Cheyenne struggle with their love of the land and poverty. Coal mines are being attempted on their reservation where the tribe must choose between their love for the land or economic prosperity (Keen). Native Americans, in turn, thank and love the source that provides all their necessities, even when it may not be in their best interest. How we got here and where we came from is one of the oldest questions known to man. As humans, we have been trying to answer these fundamental questions since the dawn of time with every culture...... middle of paper ...... a vast group of people have their fundamental beliefs in love of the earth, of its creation of stories and peace. Unfortunately, many of the most definitive elements of the tribes' culture have disappeared over time. Works Cited Bruchac, Joseph. “The Heavenly Tree.” Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 51-51. Print.De Vaca, Alvar Nunez Cabeza. “The Relationship.” Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 62-65. Print.Dekanawida. “The Iroquois Constitution.” Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 55-57. Print. Keen, Judy. “For tribes, economic needs collide with tradition.” The United States Today. Print.Mooney, James. “How the world was created.” Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 48-49. Print.