Four Bears, Mandan Warrior, 1837

Speech of the Four Bears a Mandan Warrior to the Arricarees and Mandans, 30th July 1837. My Friends one and all, Listen to what I have to say. Ever since I can remember, I have loved the Whites, I have lived with them ever since I was a boy, and to the best of my knowledge, I have never wronged a white man. On the Contrary, I have always protected them from the insults of others, Which they cannot deny.

The Four Bears never saw a white man hungry, but what he gave him to eat, drink, and a buffalo skin to sleep on, in time of need.  I was always ready to die for them, which they cannot deny.  I have done every thing that a red skin could do for them, and how have they repaid it!  With ingratitude!  I have never called a white man a dog, but to day, I do pronounce them to be a set of black hearted dogs. They have deceived me, them that I always considered as brothers, has turned out to be my worst enemies.  I have been in many battles, and often wounded, but the wounds of my enemies I exhalt in, but to day I am wounded, and by whom, by those same white dogs that I have always considered, and treated as brothers.  I do not fear death my friends. You know it, but to die with my face rotten, that even the wolves will shrink with horror at seeing me, and say to themselves, that is the Four Bears the friend of the whites.

Listen well what I have to say, as it will be the last time you will hear me.  Think of your wives, children, brothers, sisters, friends, and in fact all that you hold dear, are all dead, or dying, with their faces all rotten, caused by those dogs the whites, think of all that my friends, and rise all together and not leave one of them alive. The Four Bears will act his Part.