Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, was the Paiute religious leader who founded a second episode of the Ghost Dance movement. Wovoka means “cutter” or “wood cutter” in the Northern Paiute language.

Wovoka Quotes

1. “When the sun died, I went up to heaven and saw God and all the people who had died a long time ago. God told me to come back and tell my people they must be good and love one another, and not fight, or steal, or lie. He gave me this dance to give to my people.”
— Wovoka

2. “You ask me to plow the ground. Shall I take a knife and tear my mother’s bosom? Then when I die she will not take me to her bosom to rest.”
— Wovoka

3. “All Indians must dance, everywhere keep on dancing.”
— Wovoka

4. “Grandfather says that when your friends die you must not cry. You must not hurt anybody or do harm to anyone. You must not fight. Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.”
— Wovoka

5. “Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.”
— Wovoka

6. “I want my people to stay with me here. All the dead men will come to life again. Their spirits will come to their bodies again. We must wait here in the homes of our fathers and be ready to meet them in the bosom of our mother.”
— Wovoka

7. “You must not fight. Do no harm to anyone. Do right always.”
— Wovoka