ENGLISH Chapter 1: Chief Seattle’s Speech(Treasure

Trove Short Stories)

Chief Seattle’s Speech 1854 — An Introduction:

Chief Seattle (Si’ahl) (c. 1786 – June 7, 1866) was a public leader, the chief

of the native American (Red Indian) Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. The

American city Seattle is named after him. He is especially known for his

‘speech’, or sometimes referred to as ‘letter’, delivered in 1854. This speech

was a response to the American Government’s land treaty to buy the native

lands proposed by Issac Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory.

Seattle’s speech is regarded as a powerful plea for respect of native

American rights and environmental values. Seattle criticized the white

people’s imperialistic attitude and their way of reckless developments

affecting the natural environment. In fact, it was one of the earliest

instances where someone expressed great concern over the degradation of

nature and ecological balance. He warned us against the rapid progress of

western civilization and pitched for the need to protect nature. And, this is

why Chief Seattle’s speech is acclaimed with such high esteem.

One important thing to know, Seattle delivered the speech in his native

language Lushootseed and it has been translated and rewritten by several

authors since then. Therefore, the authenticity of the available texts is not

confirmed. The oldest available record of this document is Henry A. Smith’s

transcript published in the Seattle Sunday Star in 1887. But modern critics

see it as a “flowery Victorian prose” far from the original speech of Seattle.

Chief Seattle’s Speech: Summary & Explanation:

Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries

untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today

is fair. Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds.

At the very beginning of the speech Chief Seattle expresses his concernover

environmental degradation and its possible impact upon human civilization

if we do not take immediate measures. According to him Nature has been a

great sympathizer for his native people for a long time now. Nature has

given them everything they need to live on this earth. He fears that though

this condition seems to be eternal and changeless, it may ultimately

change. Human civilization may face great trouble in future if we don’t

respect environmental values.

Then the speaker ascertains his reliability by comparing his words to the

stars that never change. So, he will not change his stance in response to the

Government’s proposal of a land treaty with the natives.

The White Chief (the Governor) had arrived with the proposal and the

message of friendship from the Big Chief (the President). Seattle says that it

is kind of them to offer the natives their goodwill and friendship, because

he knows that the government has no need of the natives’ friendship in

return.

Seattle speaks of the deplorable condition of his people. He remembers

that once they had filled the entire country, but now, there are only few

people left in their tribes. They are on the verge of an extinction. So,

actually they don’t need the vast land any more.

And for this doom of the Red Indians, Seattle mainly accuses the White

people’s act of forcing their way into the native lands. The white people

regard themselves as superior and supreme and do not respect the tribal

people’s land rights and cultural values. Seattle also criticizes the reckless

manners of the young men of his own tribe. According to him, the youths

should be more sensible and responsible.

Seattle says, the President has offered to protect the native women,

children and the old men from the attacks of their old outside enemies like

the Haidas and Tsimshians if they agree to the land treaty. In that case, the

President would really be their protector, their father. But he doubts if that

will be ever possible.

According to Seattle, there is so many cultural differences between the

White Americans and the native Red Indians that a union or a mutual

understanding between the two looks unlikely. After all, they are two

distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies.

The white people have received all the love and care of God. The tribal

people have been deprived of the love, guidance and protection of God and

finally come to their meager existence.

The native Red people of America live closer to Nature than the white

people. They love the beautiful aspects of nature and understand the

importance of maintaining it.

To the tribal people, the ashes of their ancestors are sacred and they visit

their resting ground to show their respect for those. But, as Seattle

complains, the white people have no feelings for their ancestors. They

wander far from their graves without any regret.

Again, the white people don’t seem to love this world any more after they

die. So they never visit their people and places again. But, the tribal people

never forget “this beautiful world that gave them being” and continue to

visit their loved ones to guide, console and comfort them.

Seattle even says that the White people’s religion, i.e. Christianity, is written

upon stones so that people never forget it. It is not felt by heart. Their

religion is somewhat artificial and mechanical, as they have no respect for

the environment and for their ancestors. But, the native people’s religion is

“the traditions of our ancestors — the dreams of our old men“.

The Chief prepares his people for their impending doom by saying that no

one will be spared from the hands of time, death and decay. Death is a

common destiny that the White men too cannot defy.

Anyway, Seattle says that he may still agree to the government’s proposal

but the natives should be allowed to visit the resting grounds of their

ancestors.

But should we accept it, I here and now make this condition that we will not

be denied the privilege without molestation of visiting at any time the

tombs of our ancestors, friends, and children.

He again warns the President to be just and deal kindly with his people. He

believes that death is just a change of worlds and the spirits of the natives

will still be there after their death to take revenge if they are treated badly.

Chief Seattle’s Speech:

In Chief Seattle’s Speech we have the theme of friendship, control, religion,

trust and acceptance. Taken from the original Seattle Sunday Star article the

reader realises from the beginning of the speech that Chief Seattle comes in

peace or friendship towards the white man. He knows of the atrocities that

have been caused between both the Native Americans and the white

settlers in America. However he is keen to put those aside in the interest of

peace and prosperity. What is also interesting about the story is the Chief’s

allusion to God. Judging him to be a creation of the white man and as such a

God only to the white man. Chief Seattle himself relies on nature as his God

and any land that a Indian may have died upon is seen as sacred land and

land that other Native Americans themselves will also hold in high degree.

This may be important as God for the Native Americans is totally different

to a white man’s God. He does not judge people but rather ensures that

they live on by way of the land. What is also interesting about the story is

that Chief Seattle is willing to capitulate to the demands of the white man.

That being he is prepared to accept whatever the white man says when it

comes to what reservation the Chief and his followers will live on.

Though some readers might find this strange. The chief may be aware that

he can no longer defeat the white man. That his losses have been too

severe and if anything it is better for the Chief and his followers to come

out of the shadows and participate in the generally accepted life that has

become America. Even if their lands have been taken from them. In reality

white settlers in America stole most if not all the Indian land and only

allowed for Native Americans to live on small reservations. Where once an

Indian had the freedom to roam all of America. Even if it meant hostility

from other Native Americans. However over time white settlers due to their

number overtook Native Americans as the predominant force in America

and it would appear that Chief Seattle has learnt to accept this. Though he

still knows that the white man’s God is not universal. He is non-inclusive of

Indian people. This may be important as many might assume that God is

inclusive of all his children. However due to biblical teachings at the time

the Indian was seen as the enemy. Such was the greed of the white person

and their belief in their own self-importance.

Throughout the speech it is also noticeable that Chief Seattle is passive.

Which may suggest to some readers that he has no option but to agree to

the settlement terms of the white man. However Chief Seattle, though it

goes against his reasoning, could easily have continued to fight the white

man. Though instead came with peace on his mind. He no longer had a

need for the large volume of land that was at stake and a reservation may

in fact have been more apt for him and his followers. There is also a sense

that Chief Seattle is putting his trust in the white men despite both parties

being foes for so long. As to why this is may be difficult to say but Chief

Seattle may have had enough of the numerous losses suffered by Native

Americans while fighting the more superior white forces. He may have

reached a point in whereby any form of peace was better than losing more

men unnecessarily.

The end of the speech is also interesting as it would appear that Chief

Seattle is issuing the white men with a warning. ‘Let him be just and deal

kindly with my people, for the dead are not altogether powerless.’ This line

in itself may be important as it highlights that Chief Seattle believes in the

power of the spirits of the Indian dead. Whereas the white men’s dead do

not appear to have the same influence. Once gone they seem to be

forgotten. This is not the case for Chief Seattle. It is as though he has

something to fall back on should the white men not be trusted. For the

moment Chief Seattle is prepared to trust the white men though things if

necessary could change. The spirit of the Native Americans lives on and can

be called upon at any time. What the Chief is agreeing to is not written in

stone and should circumstances necessitate. Chief Seattle is prepared to

continue to fight. The mistreatment of the Indian being one such example.

Chief Seattle is prepared to live side by side with the white man but only if

the Indian is treated fairly.

REFERENCE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv1BDTWQsj0&feature=youtu.be

WORKSHEET:

Extract I:

1. Who speaks these words? Give the meaningof:

“Yonder sky that has swept tears of compassion upon my people for

centuries untold.”

These are words are spoken by Chief Seattle. She says that nature has

sympathized with his people for many centuries.

2. Why does the speaker say “ tomorrow it may be overcast with

clouds”?

Chief Seattle feels that things are fine at present. However, the scenario

will change in the future as the Great Chief in Washington wishes to buy

their land with words of feigned ‘goodwill and friendship.’

3. Who is the ‘Great Chief at Washington’? What has the Great Chief

done to Seattle and his people?

George Washington, the first President of the United States of America, is

the Great Chief at Washington. The Great Chief at Washington wishes to

buy the land of the Native Americans with words of feigned ‘goodwill and

friendship.’

4. How much are Seattle’s words reliable as far as the Great Chief is

concerned?

His words are like the stars that never change. The Great Chief at

Washington can rely upon his words with as much certainty as he can

upon the return of the sun or the seasons.

5. Briefly state the reaction of the Chief Seattle to the greetings sent by

the Big Chief atWashington?

The Great Chief sends Chief Seattle and his people words of goodwill and

friendship. Seattle feels that he is in little need of their help and

friendship, as his people are strong and powerful as compared to the

natives.

Extract II:

1. Compare the number of Chief Seattle’s people with that of the White

Chief. How does the narrator illustrate this act?

Seattle says that there was a time when his people were large in number

now they are nothing more than a mournful memory. He compares the

Whites to the grass that covers the vast prairies, large in number. His

people are few and they resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept

plain.

2. What message does the White Chief send to the native people?

The White Chief informs that they must get ready for land settlement

treaty between the US government and Native American tribe. According

to the treaty, the Native Americans should surrender their land to the

Whites and move farther from their ancestors’ land.

3. A little later, how does Seattle describe that his people were

numerous once upon a time?

He says that once the Native Americans covered the land as the waves of

a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor.

4. State the message sent by the White Chief to the native people. What

is the reaction of Chief Seattle to the message?

The White Chief wishes to buy the land of the Native Americans. Seattle

says that the proposition seems to be just, kind and generous s the Red

man no longer has rights. The offer appears to be wise since the Native

Americans are less in number and don’t require a vast territory.

5. What happened when the White man began to push the natives

westward? Should the native people take revenge on the White men?

Why?

They young turned violent and indulged in revengeful acts when the white

men pushed the westward. There is no use in taking revenge on the White

men because they are large in number as well as more powerful. In times

of war, they even lose their own lives, but the family that wants for the m

at home bears the loss.

Extract III:

1. Who is referred to as our father in Washington? Since when he has

become ‘our father and your father’?

George Washington. Since King George has moved his boundaries further

north, he has become the father the Native Americans.

2. A little earlier, Chief Seattle exclaims that ‘youth is impulsive.’ Why

does he say that? What does it reflect about his character?

Youth is impulsive because they grow angry at real or imaginary wrong

and they often become cruel and relentless. They become hostile and lose

their lives in violent acts.

Seattle discourages such kind of behavior from the youth and it indicates

his love for peace and friendly relationship. He is against war and he does

not glorify war but condemns it.

3. Under what condition is the good father going to protect the native

people? What is meant by ‘bristling wall of strength’?

If the Native Americans surrender or sell their land to the White settlers,

he will protect them from foreign enemies like Haidas and Tsimshians.

Bristling wall refers to the vigorous and energetic white people’s brave

men who will provide them strength and will protect them from their

ancient enemies.

4. Who are Haidas and Tsimshians? How they will cease to frighten the

natives?

They are two tribes who constantly at the Suquamish tribe. Haidas are

indigenous people of North America. Tsimshains are North American

Indians of the North-west Coast.

The White Chief’s brave men will provide the natives strength and his

ships would fill their harbours so that Hidas and Tsimshians cease to

frighten the natives.

5. How does Chief Seattle prove that the White man’s God is not the

God of the natives?

The God of the White man loves his people and hates Seattle’s people. He

protects them lovingly and leads them like a father leads his infant son.

But he has forsaken Seattle and his people.

Extract IV:

1. Who is referred to as the God of the natives? Why does he seem to

have forgotten them?

The Great Spirit is referred to as the God of the natives. The Great Spirit

has forgotten his people because Suquamish tribe has almost become

extinct and their number is declining rapidly. The Great Spirit is no longer

a father figure to them; “they seem to be orphans who can look nowhere

for help.”

2. Why are the natives compared to the receding tide and are called

orphans?

Their population is rapidly reducing and they have almost become extinct.

They are called orphans because their God, the Great Spirit has forgotten

them.

3. Why does the Chief say ‘that if there was a common father for both

races, he must be partial?

Because He came to the help of His paleface children and never came to

the help of Red Man. He gave them laws to be followed but none to his

Red children. They have separate origin and separate destinies. He makes

the White people stronger every day but does nothing for the well being

of the natives.

4. Finally, the Chief says ‘We are two distinct races with separate origins

and separate destinies.’ Give examples to prove this statement.

They are two distinct races-the native Americans and the White colonists.

The natives’ origin is the American land that is being contested; the

Whites here originally belonged to Europe who came and colonized these

native Americans.

Their destinies are different-the natives are receding every day while the

Whites are like the grass that covers vast prairies.

5. How does the speech of the Chief show that his people were

oppressed?

The Whites unjustly exercising authority over the Native Americans. It is

the natives’ land that the Big Chief in Washington ‘wishes’ to buy but

‘wish’ is a word sarcastically used by Chief Seattle. The Whites are so

powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to

bow down. Chief Seattle says that Whites are willing to allow them

enough land to live comfortably which is symbolic of their master-slave

relationship.

Extract V:

1. Give the meaning of:

a) Tablet of stone

Refers to the words written on to stone tablets that later were brought

down from Mount Sinai by Moses. The tablets were also known as the

Ten Commandments.

b) Iron finger: Biblical phrase which means Finger of God.

2. What was the Red Man’s religion?

The religion of the Red Man is the traditions of their ancestors-the dreams

of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great

Spirit; and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the hearts of

their people.

3. Compare the religion of the White man with that of the Redman.

The religion of the Red Man is the traditions of their ancestors-the dreams

of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great

Spirit; and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the hearts of

their people.

The White men followed Christianity and it was written by the iron finger

of their God, symbolizing strict adherence to rules and principles. The God

of this religion is partial and has forsaken his Red children. Seattle says

that this God loves only his paleface children and not the natives.

4. How can you conclude that the natives are more dependent on their

ancestors than the Whitemen?

Seattle says that the ashes of his ancestors are sacred and their resting

place is hallowed ground. They love to stay in the land where their

ancestors’ memories are alive. Whereas the Whites wander far from their

ancestors’ graves. The Whites once they are dead, forget their native land

and never return. The dead of the Red men will never forget their native

land and year to visit this beautiful land.

5. What does Seattle say about Christianity?

The White men followed Christianity and it was written by the iron finger

of their God, symbolizing strict adherence to rules and principles. The God

of this religion is partial and has forsaken his Red children. Seattle says

that this God loves only his paleface children and not the natives.

Extract VI:

1. Why do the dead of the White men cease to love their land and their

people?

This is because they never connect with their land their people spiritually.

Their relationship with their land and their people is not sacred or holy; it

is materialistic. As soon as they die, the link to their earthly life breaks and

devoid of spiritualism they are incapable of an afterlife.

2. On the other hand, what do the dead of the Red man do to their

living?

The dead of the Red man never forget their native land where they lived.

They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers, its magnificent

mountains, sequestered valleys and verdant lined lakes and bays, and

ever yearn to visit this place again. Moreover the spirits of the dead keep

visiting to guide, console and comfort the living.

3. What propel was put forward to the Red man by the Great Chief?

The Red men should surrender their native land to the Whites. In return

of this, the Whites will protect them foreign attack from the Haidas and

Tsimshians. The Whites are willing to allow them to enough land to live

comfortably.

4. What is the impact of the proposal on the Red man and the White

man?

The Native Americans will have to leave their native land where their

ancestors are resting in eternal peace. They lose their land which is full of

memories. The land that they have been asked to sell is sacred for them.

The Whites unjustly exercising authority over them. The Whites are

powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to

bow down. The Whites are willing to allow them enough land to live

comfortably which is symbolic of their master-slave relationship.

5. What role do the dead Red men play for the living? How do the dead

Red men show that they are an intimate part of nature?

The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what is

felt by the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’, ‘the field’ would

never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all

the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a

part of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and

its ‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here

would not be death but only a gateway to the eternal world.

Extract VII:

1. How has the Chief shown earlier that he is not happy about the fate of

his people?

He feels as if not a single star of hope hovers above the natives’ horizon.

The winds moan and grim fate follows them. Their situation is similar to a

wounded doe that is being hunted down. Moreover he feels that in a few

more years, their race will disappear. This is how he reflects his

unhappiness about the fate of his people.

2. How is the order of nature referred to by the Chief? How does he hint

that justice will be done at the end?

Every person, tribe, or culture that is risen to great glory would definitely

meet its fall one day and that would be surely be the day of justice.

Seattle believes that time will come when the Whites would also be

moving towards their inevitable doom.

3. What is referred to: ‘White man’s God who walked and talked with

him?’

This is a reference to the Biblical God and his ten commandments that

always supported and guided the White men.

4. Give the meaning and significance of:

‘We may be brothers after all.’

Seattle believes that White settlers too will have their decay one day. It

would be then that the White men and Red men would share a common

destiny. They would be brothers only when the Whites would be able to

empathize the Red men.

5. What could be the common destiny of man? Give the hints given in

the extract to show that the Chief foresees the unity of all human beings?

The common destiny of man is that his decay is inevitable. It is through

the White man’s decay the Seattle foresees the unity of all beings. He

says: ‘we may be brothers after all. We will see.’ Extract VIII:

1. Explain why there is no place dedicated to solitude.

2. This is because even after the last native has perished ‘shores will

swarm with the invisible dead’ of Seattle’s tribe. The natives’ love for

their land makes them immortal. Thus, the Whites will never be alone.

3. When do the shadowy spirits visit the places?

The shadowy spirits visit the places at nights when the streets of the

Whites’ cities are silent and it is falsely believed that they are deserted.

4. When would the memory of the tribe be a myth among the White

men?

The memory of the tribe would become a myth among the White men

when the last Red man shall have perished from the natives’ land, but this

would be momentary as it would the ‘swarm with the invisible dead of

the tribe.’

5. What is the attitude of the dead towards the objects of nature?

Native Americans even after death don’t forget the world that gave them

their being and identity. They keep on loving its valleys, its rivers, its

magnificent mountains, and its lakes. The dead feel one with the nature

and its surroundings.

6. Explain how does the speech of the Chief reflect upon the theme of

changing human life to another form.

The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what is

felt by the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’, ‘the field’ would

never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all

the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a

part of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and

its ‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here

would not be death but only a gateway to the eternal world. They will

only change their world and hence will become immortal. He ends his

speech with the assertion that ‘there is no death, only a change of

worlds.