LikhoPadho

Chief Seattle was the chief of the native American Suquamish and Duwamish tribes in the Washington territory in the nineteenth century. He was born in 1786 near Blake Island, Washington. He was tall and broad, standing nearly six feet tall. The Hudson's Bay Company traders gave him the nickname Le Gros (The Big Guy). He was also know as an orator and when he addressed his audience, his voice was loud and bold. He is especially known for his 'speech', delivered in 1854. Seattle delivered the speech in his native language Lushootseed and it has been translated and rewritten by several authors since then . He died on June 7, 1866. 

An Introduction to the Speech 

The European nations came to America to increase their wealth and broaden their influence over world affairs. The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States. By 1650. however, England had established a dominant presence on the Atlantic coast. Eventually, most of the Western Hemisphere came under the control of the European governments, leading to changes to its landscape, population and plant and animal life. The Europeans made it a mission to rule over the Native Americans under the grab of civilisation. When Native Americans came in contact with the Europeans during imperialism, they were ensalved and ill treated and were pushed westwards. There were hostilities between them. In the 19th century over 50 million people left Europe for the Americas. Stevens was a controversial governor in his time. Historians consider him even more controversial, for his role in compelling the Native American tribes of Washington Territory by intimidation and force to sign treaties that ceded most of their lands and rights to Stevens' government. This speech was a response to the American Government's land treaty to buy the natives' lands propsed by Isaao 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 critized the white people's imperialistic attitude and their way of reckless developments affecting the natural environment. In his speech, he pursues the path of accommodation to the white settlers in the United States in a rational and logical manner.