message of chief Seattle's speech in 200 words
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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.
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