Volume 15 , Issue 39

Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle (c. 1780-7 June 1866) was a Duwamish chief, also known as Sealth, Seathle, Seathl. He was a prominent figure among his people, and pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, forming a personal relationship with David Swinson "Doc" Maynard. The city of Seattle, Washington was named after him.

There was a widely publicized speech arguing in favor of ecological responsibility and respect of native Americans' land rights that was attributed to Chief Seattle, 11 March 1854. The speech attributed to him concerned the concession of native lands to the settlers. The actual contents of the speech are unclear and disputed. the most common version was on March 11, 1854, giving at a large outdoor gathering in Seattle.

I love the following quote that some attribute to him:
"You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of our grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the Earth is rich with the lives of their kin. Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the Earth is our mother."

"Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth. If men spit on the ground they spit on themselves. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." ~Chief Seattle~   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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