We’re supposed to be holding up one another, supporting each other, having our arm underneath our brother’s arms while walking down the road of life.
Reuben Snake
The Road of Life
Topic: Family & Friendship
The elders told us that this is the road of life that we’re walking down. We’re supposed to be holding up one another, supporting each other, having our arm underneath our brother’s arms while walking down the road of life.
Winnebago tribal leader Reuben A. Snake Jr. (named Kee-Kah-Wah-Un-Ga at birth) serves as national chairman of the American Indian Movement. Reuben A. Snake, Jr. was born on January 12, 1937, in Winnebago, Nebraska. Native American visionary, activist, and Winnebago elder. At the time of his death in 1993, Reuben Snake, known throughout Indian country as ”Your Humble Serpent,” was known around the nation and the world for the power of his spiritual presence. In a statement read into the Congressional Record the day following Snake’s death, Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii anticipated the passage of a law securing Native religious rights.
Reuben Snake was a Native American activist and leader of the Winnebago tribe. Snake grew up on the Winnebago Reservation and attended a government-run boarding school, where he was forbidden to speak his native language. This experience sparked his passion for preserving his tribe's culture and language, which he later pursued through his activism.
Snake became involved in Native American activism during the 1960s and worked alongside other leaders such as Dennis Banks and Russell Means. He was a vocal advocate for Native American rights, especially in the areas of land and water rights. Additionally, he was an influential figure in the development of the American Indian Movement (AIM), which aimed to address issues faced by Native Americans in urban areas. Snake passed away in 1993, but his legacy as a passionate advocate for Native American rights continues to inspire future generations.
One of Snake's closest friends and allies was Huston Smith, a renowned scholar of world religions. The two met in the 1960s and bonded over their shared interest in spirituality and social justice. They worked together on several projects, including a film about Native American religion and a book about their experiences working with the Winnebago tribe. Their friendship was a testament to the power of cross-cultural understanding and collaboration in the pursuit of social change.
Winnebago Wisdom Teaching
Smith, Huston. The World's Religions. Harper San Francisco, 1991, p. 381 [Reuben Snake, Winnebago medicine man and Winnebago tribal chairman].
Reuben Snake
Theme: Friendship
About This Reuben Snake Quotation [Commentary]
Reuben Snake’s words—“We’re supposed to be holding up one another, supporting each other, having our arm underneath our brother’s arms while walking down the road of life”—offer a grounded call to mutual care. The “road of life,” as he describes it, is a shared path, not meant to be walked alone. Guided by the elders’ teachings, Snake emphasizes a way of being that centers on helping one another through both difficulty and joy. His language is clear and relational, pointing to a kind of support that is both physical and emotional.
This vision of friendship is not based on sentiment alone but on sustained, active presence. The image of “our arm underneath our brother’s arms” speaks to companionship rooted in responsibility. Reuben Snake’s use of “brother” conveys a universal kinship that includes all people. The support he describes involves closeness and care that transcends difference, reminding us that our connections are not optional—they are essential to the journey.
Rooted in Indigenous values, Snake’s words reflect a broader cultural understanding where relationships are central to life. “Supporting each other” is not just moral advice; it’s a way to live in community. His own life—marked by advocacy, teaching, and cross-cultural friendship—embodied this ethic. His guidance calls us to recognize that we walk the road of life together, and that how we care for one another shapes the world we share.
Reuben Snake’s Friend Huston Smith
One of Snake’s closest friends and allies was Huston Smith, a renowned scholar of world religions. The two met in the 1960s and bonded over their shared interest in spirituality and social justice. They worked together on a number of projects, including a film about Native American religion and a book about their experiences working with the Winnebago tribe. Their friendship was a testament to the power of cross-cultural understanding and collaboration in the pursuit of social change.
“What may be hoped is that we [citified, industrial peoples] are now ready to put both prejudice and idealization behind us. If we are, perhaps we can live out our numbered years of planetary partnership in mutual respect, guided by the dream of one primal spokesman that ‘we may be brothers after all.’ If we succeed in doing this, there is still time for us to learn some things from them [primal peoples].”
—Huston Smith [The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions, Harper San Francisco, 1991] p. 381
Reuben Snake taught Huston Smith about the “Aho!” Greeting
Yes, Huston Smith tells a story in his book “The World’s Religions” about his friend Reuben Snake, a Native American activist and spiritual leader, who taught him the custom of greeting the morning while saying “Aho!”
According to Smith, he was staying with Reuben Snake on the reservation when he noticed that every morning, Reuben would stand on his doorstep facing the rising sun and say “Aho!” He asked Reuben about this custom, and Reuben explained that it was a traditional greeting used by many Native American tribes.
Reuben went on to explain that the word “Aho” carries deep spiritual significance for Native Americans. It is believed to be an expression of gratitude and reverence for the natural world and all living beings. By saying “Aho,” one acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things and the sacredness of life itself.
After learning about the meaning behind the greeting, Smith began to incorporate it into his own morning ritual. He found that it helped him to start his day with a sense of gratitude and humility, and to connect more deeply with the natural world.
Overall, the story of Reuben Snake and the custom of greeting the morning with “Aho” serves as a reminder of the wisdom and richness of Native American spirituality, and of the importance of cultivating a deeper sense of connection and reverence for the natural world in our own lives.
—Huston Smith [The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions, Harper San Francisco, 1991].
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