Question

Simple summery of - The Chief Seattle's Speech (version 1)

Answer 1

A chief to the Duwamish people his native name is closer to Si’ahl. The city found in the state of Washington is named after him. He is famous for having made a speech that was generally in favor of being responsible to the environment and to have respect of the land rights of his people.

It is said he was born on the Black River near what is now the city of Kent. He was just a young man when he earned the reputation of being both a warrior and a leader because of the many defeating ambushes that he led. He and his group primarily attached the S’Klallam and the Chimakum along the Green River up from the foothills of the Cascades.

At just about six feet he was considered both broad and tall for a Puget Sound native and there for given the nickname, Le Gros or The Big One by the traders with the Hudson Bay Company. He also became known as an orator because of his articulate address regarding relations between the Native Americans and the Europeans.

He was baptized Noah into the Roman Catholic Church. In March of 1854 he gave a speech to a great number of people just outside of Seattle in regards to Native lands. He spoke while resting his hand on the Governor and it has been translated several times. He reportedly thanked the Europeans for their generosity and also asked to have guaranteed access to the Native American burial grounds.