You've probably seen it on a dusty plaque in a gift shop or shared as a grainy JPEG on Facebook. It looks official. It feels ancient. Usually, it's titled the American Indian Ten Commandments, and it offers a list of moral guidelines like "Treat the earth and all that dwells thereon with respect" or "Work together for the benefit of all Mankind."
It’s beautiful stuff. Truly.
But here’s the thing: those "commandments" aren't actually some ancient decree passed down through thousands of years of Indigenous oral tradition. If you go looking for them in the historical records of the Lakota, the Haudenosaunee, or the Navajo, you’re going to come up empty-handed.
Does that mean they’re fake? Well, it’s complicated.
Where did the American Indian Ten Commandments actually come from?
History is messy. People love to package complex cultures into neat, numbered lists because our brains find that easy to digest. The reality is that there are over 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States alone, each with distinct languages, spiritual practices, and legal structures. To say there is one single set of "commandments" for all "American Indians" is kinda like saying there is one single recipe for "European Food." It’s a massive oversimplification.
The version of the American Indian Ten Commandments we see today most likely gained traction in the late 20th century. While the specific author is often disputed—sometimes attributed to various 19th-century chiefs or vaguely "traditional" sources—most scholars and Indigenous historians point toward a pan-Indian movement. This was a time when different tribes were finding common ground to advocate for civil rights and cultural preservation.
The list was basically a way to translate Indigenous values into a format that a Western, Christian-centric audience could understand.
By using the word "commandments," the creators were signaling: "Hey, we have a moral code just as valid as yours." It was a tool for bridge-building, but it also accidentally stripped away the specific, vibrant nuances of individual tribal laws.
Breaking down the "Commandments" vs. Reality
If you look at the common text of these rules, you'll see things like "Remain close to the Great Spirit."
Wait.
The term "Great Spirit" is itself a bit of a linguistic compromise. It’s a translation of the Lakota word Wakan Tanka, which refers to the sacred or the divine. But Wakan Tanka isn't exactly a "person" in the way many Westerners view God. It’s more of a Great Mystery or a collective sacred energy. When we force these concepts into a 1-to-10 list, we lose the poetry.
Take the rule "Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each new day." In many Indigenous cultures, gratitude isn't a "commandment" you follow to avoid punishment. It's a way of being. It’s woven into the very fabric of the language. For example, in many Algonquian languages, you don't just "say" thank you; you acknowledge your relationship to the thing you are receiving.
Then there's the instruction to "Speak the truth but only of the good in others."
Honesty is a core value across almost every North American tribe. The Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) are a much better, historically grounded example of this. Those teachings include Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth. Notice how they aren't "Thou Shalt Nots." They are virtues to strive for.
Indigenous ethics are usually about balance. Harmony. If you mess up, the goal isn't just "forgiveness" from a deity; it’s restoration of the community. You have to make it right with the people you hurt.
Why this list keeps circulating
Honestly? It’s because the advice is actually good.
"Treat the earth and all that dwells thereon with respect."
You can't really argue with that. In an era of climate crisis and social fragmentation, the American Indian Ten Commandments offer a grounding philosophy that feels deeply necessary. They resonate because they prioritize the collective over the individual. They remind us that we are part of an ecosystem, not the masters of it.
But we have to be careful about "Noble Savage" tropes. This is the tendency for non-Indigenous people to romanticize Native cultures as magical, mystical, and perfectly in tune with nature, while ignoring the actual political and social struggles of those communities today. When someone shares the "Ten Commandments" but doesn't know anything about treaty rights or the Indian Child Welfare Act, it becomes a form of "cultural window dressing."
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It’s a bit like buying a t-shirt with a cool quote but never actually talking to the person who said it.
The Seven Grandfather Teachings: A Real Alternative
If you want to look at a genuine, culturally specific framework, the Seven Grandfather Teachings are a fantastic place to start. These are widely respected among the Anishinaabe people. They weren't written down in a book 2,000 years ago; they were passed down through stories and lived experience.
- Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom): Using your natural gifts to promote septuagenarian intelligence and health.
- Zaagi'idiwin (Love): Knowing love is to know peace.
- Manaadendamowin (Respect): To honor all creation.
- Aakode'ewin (Bravery): Facing the foe with integrity.
- Gwayakwaadiziwin (Honesty): Being honest with yourself and others.
- Dabaadendiziwin (Humility): Knowing you are a sacred part of creation but not the center of it.
- Debwewin (Truth): To know all of these things.
These aren't just "rules." They are a lifelong practice. You don't just "achieve" humility and check it off your list. You work on it every morning when you wake up.
Respecting the source material
When we talk about the American Indian Ten Commandments, we're often talking about a synthesis of values.
Is it "accurate"? Not as a historical document.
Is it "true"? Many Indigenous elders would say the values within it are true, even if the format is a Western invention.
The danger is in treating Indigenous culture as a monolith. A member of the Seminole tribe in Florida has a vastly different ancestral history and set of social protocols than a member of the Tlingit tribe in Alaska. Their "commandments" would look very different based on the land they live on.
For the Tlingit, the concept of Haa Shagóon—which connects past, present, and future generations—governs behavior more than a numbered list ever could. It’s about the weight of your ancestors watching you and the responsibility you have to the children not yet born.
That’s a heavy responsibility. It’s much harder than just following ten rules.
Moving beyond the viral list
If you’ve found inspiration in the American Indian Ten Commandments, that’s great. The world needs more people trying to be respectful of the earth and honest in their dealings.
But don't stop there.
If you want to truly honor these values, look into the specific tribes that originally inhabited the land where you currently live. What were their laws? How did they manage their resources?
For instance, the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) had a "Great Law of Peace." This wasn't just a list of moral suggestions; it was a sophisticated constitution that influenced the United States Constitution. It detailed how leaders should be chosen, how disputes should be settled, and how the "Seven Generations" principle should guide every single decision.
That is the "real" version of these commandments. It’s legal, it’s spiritual, and it’s deeply practical.
It’s also much more interesting than a viral list from the 1990s.
Actionable steps for honoring Indigenous wisdom
Instead of just sharing a list of commandments, here are real ways to integrate these philosophies into your life with integrity.
- Learn the Land: Use tools like Native-Land.ca to find out whose ancestral territory you are standing on. Research that specific tribe's values.
- Support Local Creators: If you want a piece of "Native wisdom" for your home, buy art or books directly from Indigenous creators rather than mass-produced "Native-style" items.
- Read the Great Law of Peace: If you’re interested in Indigenous governance and ethics, read the actual translations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's founding principles. It will change how you think about democracy.
- Practice "Seven Generations" Thinking: Before making a big purchase or a life change, ask yourself: "How will this affect the people living here 140 years from now?"
- Ditch the Monolith: Stop using the phrase "The Native Americans believe..." and start saying "The Diné people practice..." or "In Cherokee tradition..."
The American Indian Ten Commandments are a starting point, a gateway. They offer a glimpse into a world-view that prioritizes connection over consumption. But the real depth—the real "commandments"—are found in the specific, living cultures that have survived centuries of attempts to erase them.
Go deeper than the list. The actual history is much more rewarding.