Marcia L. Gerencser
The Indians did not necessarily distinguish between the animate and inanimate. Everything embodied life and was considered to be in a conscious state of being. The plants, animals, herbs and all non-living parts of their ecosystem were in essence a human life form. Every object that sprang from their creativity was in effect in possession of life. Every sound and movement made by an inanimate object was synonymous with those that are demonstrated by a human being. The Indian felt that everything in existence co-existed and was owned by no one. An example of this philosophy is the speech made by Chief Seattle of the Northwest Indians Chief Seattle’s words were originally translated by Dr. Henry A. Smith and have been rewritten by others through the century. This message was also brought to a larger audience with the appearance of Joseph Campbell on Bill Moyer’s PBS series and in his book “The Power the Myth”. Another adaptation was transcribed by Susan Jeffers in her book “Brother Eagle, Sister Eagle”(1). I found the following adaptation in a bookstore in Taos, New Mexico. Credit is given to the University of Washington for the adaptation. It goes as follows.
How Can You Buy Or Sell The Earth?
Chief Seattle and Chief of the Squamish Duwamish Indians as in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. In 1854 the United States Government offered to buy 2 million acres of Indian land in the Northwest region. During this time the government had been taking land from the Indians and forcing them to live on smaller areas of land called reservations. Chief Seattle replied to President Franklin Pierce very eloquently. It has been described as the most beautiful and prophetic statement on the environment ever made. His speech demonstrated many of the differences between the way Native Americans and whites regarded the world in which they live. Below is this memorable speech.
The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. The Great Chief also send us words of friendship and goodwill. This is kind of him, since we know he has little need of our friendship in return.
How can we buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is so strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?
Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, and every humming insect is holy in the memory of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man. So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us.
This we know: all things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of fife; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. But we will consider your offer to go to the reservation you have for my people. We will live apart and live in peace.
One thing we know, which the white man may one day discoverour God is the same God. You may think now that you own Him as you wish to own our land; but you cannot.
He is the God of man; and his compassion is equal for the red man and the white. The earth is precious to Him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator. The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner that all other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one day suffocate in your own waste.
But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the red man. That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand what will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tamed, and the view of the ripe hills is blotted by talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone. And what is it to say good-by to the swift pony and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival. So we will consider your offer to buy the land.
If we agree, it will be to secure the reservation you have promised. There, perhaps, we may live out our brief days as we wish. When the last red man has vanished from the earth, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, these shores and forests will still hold the spirits of my people. For they love this earth as a newborn loves its mother’s heartbeat. So, if we sell our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you take it. And preserve it for your children, and love it ... as God loves us all. One thing we know. Our God is the same God. This earth is precious to Him. Even the white man cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be Brothers after all.
We shall see...(2)
After reading the speech by Chief Seattle pass out a copy to each student and discuss. See Lesson Plan that follows:
Lesson Plan #I
Objective:
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To read and comprehend the speech made by Chief Seattle.
Skills:
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Strengthen listening skills
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Oral reading fluency
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Strengthen reading comprehension
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Vocabulary development
Procedure:
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Have children locate the following words in Chief Seattle’s speech and define word in its context.
Vocabulary:
Northwest
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dominion
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eloquently
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slaughtered
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prophetic
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thicket
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demonstrated
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vanished
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goodwill
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prairie
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sap
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exempt
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strand
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destiny
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perishing
Post-Reading Discussion Questions:
1.
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If Chief Seattle was making this speech today, who would he be referring to as the Great Chief in Washington?
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2.
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In paragraph 4, Chief Seattle says, “Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it?” What does he mean?
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3.
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Read paragraph 7. Where does Chief Seattle feel that the “spirits of his people” will always be held? What does he mean?
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4.
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Chief Seattle feels that the Indian and the white man have someone in common. Who is it?
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5.
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Chief Seattle was very concerned about the future of the environment. If he was alive today and was writing this speech, what do you think he would say about the condition of the environment as it is today?
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6.
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Why do you think he agreed to sell the land?
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