efore our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men, we didn't have any kind of prison.

Because of this, we had no delinquents.

Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.  We had no locks nor keys and therefore amongst us were no thieves.

When someone among us was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.

We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.  We didn't know any kind of money and consequently the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth.

We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians; therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.

We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage these fundamental things that (so they tell us), are so necessary for a civilized society.

~ John Fire Lame Deer,
Lacota Sioux Native Indian Chief

Hidden in plain sight . . .