You may have seen this list on a poster, shared on Facebook, or displayed in someone’s home.

Often called the Native American Ten Commandments, these ten principles focus on ideas that remain relevant in everyday life: respect the Earth, care for others, live honestly, and take responsibility for your choices.

Before we begin, some context matters.

The exact origin of this popular list is not clearly documented, and it should not be treated as an official spiritual code representing every Native Nation. Native communities have distinct cultures, languages, histories, and traditions.

Instead, this list is best understood as a widely shared set of modern principles - and a useful starting point for thinking about how we treat the world, our communities, and ourselves.

1. Treat the Earth and All That Lives Upon It With Respect

Respecting the Earth is about more than enjoying nature. It includes how we use resources, how much we waste, and what we leave behind for future generations.

You do not need to completely change your lifestyle overnight. Start with one practical choice: use less plastic, waste less food, protect a local green space, or support responsible conservation efforts.

2. Remain Close to Your Spiritual Beliefs

Spiritual life looks different for everyone.

For some people, it means prayer or ceremony. For others, it may involve quiet reflection, service, gratitude, or spending time in nature.

The takeaway is simple: make time for whatever helps you stay grounded and act according to your values.

3. Show Respect for Other People

Respect does not require agreement.

It means listening carefully, treating people with dignity, and avoiding unnecessary cruelty - even during disagreement.

It also includes self-respect. Healthy boundaries, rest, and asking for help are part of caring for yourself.

4. Work Together for the Good of the Community

Individual success matters, but healthy communities are built through cooperation.

That can mean supporting a local organization, sharing an opportunity, helping a neighbor, mentoring someone younger, or contributing your skills to a community project.

A useful question to ask is:

" How can what I know or have access to help someone else move forward? "

5. Give Help and Kindness Wherever They Are Needed

Kindness is most valuable when it becomes action.

It may look like delivering a meal, checking on a friend, offering transportation, sharing helpful information, or standing beside someone during a difficult time.

Small acts matter - especially when they are given without expecting recognition.

6. Do What You Know Is Right

Most people know what they believe is right. The harder part is acting on it when doing so is inconvenient.

Integrity is often found in ordinary decisions:

• Keeping a promise
• Speaking up when something is unfair
• Correcting misinformation
• Admitting when you were wrong
• Choosing responsibility over convenience

Doing the right thing also requires humility. We must remain willing to listen, learn, and change.

7. Care for Your Mind and Body

Taking care of yourself is not selfish.

Physical health, emotional well-being, rest, and support all affect how you show up for the people around you.

Pay attention to what your mind and body are telling you. Sometimes the responsible choice is to slow down, ask for help, schedule an appointment, or simply get enough rest.

8. Dedicate Part of Your Effort to the Greater Good

Not everything we have must be used only for personal gain.

Time, money, knowledge, creativity, and professional skills can all support something larger than ourselves.

You might volunteer, donate, teach a skill, support a Native-led organization, or help connect someone with a useful resource.

Consistent contributions - even small ones - can create meaningful collective impact.

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9. Be Truthful and Honest

Honesty builds trust.

It means telling the truth to others, but it also means being honest with ourselves about our choices, motivations, and mistakes.

Truth is not always comfortable. However, avoiding it usually makes problems harder to repair later.

10. Take Responsibility for Your Actions

Intent and impact are not always the same.

We may not intend to hurt someone, provide incorrect information, or make a poor decision - but responsibility means acknowledging the outcome and doing what we can to correct it.

A responsible response sounds like:

“I understand what happened.”
“I should have handled it differently.”
“Here is what I will do to make it right.”

Taking responsibility is not weakness. It is how trust is rebuilt and growth begins.

One Simple Challenge

Reading these principles is easy. Practicing them is what gives them meaning.

Choose one principle to focus on today:

• Reduce unnecessary waste
• Listen without interrupting
• Help someone before they ask
• Share a useful resource
• Tell the truth about something you have avoided
• Take responsibility for an unresolved mistake

Then choose another principle tomorrow.

After ten days, ask yourself which one had the greatest effect on the way you treated other people, your community, or yourself.