1597: Susan La Flesche Picotte (Omaha) Quotes
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/11/23
1886: It has always been a desire of mine to study medicine ever since I was a small girl, for even then I saw the needs of my people for a good physician.
1886: From the outset the work of an Indian girl is plain before her. We who are educated have to be pioneers of Indian civilization. We have to prepare our people to live in the white man’s way, to use the white man’s books, and to use his laws if you will only give them to us… the shores of success can only be reached by crossing the bridge of faith.
c. 1887: I like my studies very much indeed and don’t mind the dissecting room at all. We laugh and talk there just as we do anywhere.
c. 1890: My office hours are any and all hours of the day and night.
c. 1890s: It was only an Indian and it did not matter. The doctor preferred hunting for prairie chickens rather than visiting poor, suffering humanity.
c. 1900: I believe in prevention of disease and hygiene care more than I do in giving or prescribing medicine and my constant aim is to teach these two things. Plenty of fresh air and sunshine, that is nature’s medicine.
c. 1900: I’m not accomplishing miracles, but I’m beginning to see some of the results of better hygiene and health habits. And we’re losing fewer babies and fewer cases to infection.
c. 1906: I know I shall be unpopular for a while with my people, because they will misconstrue my efforts, but this is nothing, just so I can help them for their own good.
c. 1907: As for myself, I shall willingly and gladly co-operate with the Indian department in anything that is for the welfare of the tribe, but I shall always fight good and hard against the department or any one else against anything that is to the tribe’s detriment, even if I have to fight alone, for before my God I owe my people a responsibility.
c. 1912: When I realize all the work that God has given me to do, it almost takes my breath away to think how little justice I can do to it. But it is a comfort to turn and do the next thing to relieve some poor soul’s trouble.
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