~ American Indian ~
Code of Ethics


Each morning upon rising and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day.

Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strength to be a better person.

Seek for the things that will benefit others (everyone).

Respect:

Respect means "To feel or show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the wellbeing of, or to treat someone or something with deference or courtesy".

Showing respect is a basic law of life.


Treat every person from the tiniest child to the oldest elder with respect at all times.

Special respect should be given to Elders, Parents, Teachers and Community Leaders.

No person should be made to feel "put down" by you; avoid hurting other hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison.

Touch nothing that belongs to someone else (especially Sacred Objects) without permission, or an understanding between you.

Respect the privacy of every person; never intrude on a person's quiet moment or personal space.

Never walk between people who are conversing.

Never interrupt people who are conversing.

Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special respect is due.

Do not speak unless invited to do so at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt).

Never speak about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not.

Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother.

Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world and the animal world.

Do nothing to pollute our Mother; rise up with wisdom to defend her.

Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of others.

Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless.

Listen with your heart.

Respect the wisdom of the people in council.

Once you give an idea to a council meeting it no longer belongs to you - it belongs to the people.

Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea prevail.

Indeed you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed.

The clash of ideas brings forth the Spark of Truth.

Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no-one speak secretly against what has been decided.

If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.

Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions.

Always treat your guests with honor and consideration.

Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests.

The hurt of one is the hurt of all; the honor of one is the honor of all.

Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family.

All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow.

All are beautiful.

As children of the Creator they must all be respected.

To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation and the world is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created.

Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important talks.

True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.

Observe moderation and balance in all things.

Know those things that lead to your wellbeing, and those things that lead to your destruction.

Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart.

Expect guidance to come in many forms: in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends

Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit
will listen, if you only speak.


Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit,
anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.


Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.


Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.


Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the
wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.


Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be
people or plant.


Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.


Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.


Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice
optimism.


11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and
water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them
space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return
to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this
universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional
self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out
the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional
ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react.
Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the
personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This
is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you
cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.