ICSE Class 9 Poems and Short Stories Chief Seattle’s Speech

Synopsis

Chief Seattle was a leader of a native tribe in the Washington territory in the nineteenth century. He belonged to the Suquamish tribe. He was a very prominent figure among his people. He was a warrior and defeated groups of tribal enemy raiders right from a young age. He is known to be a good orator and had a powerful personality.

The speech is a powerful bittersweet plea for respect for the rights and environmental values of Native Americans. It was delivered by Chief Seattle in his native language in 1854. There were many tribes in the land of America before the invasion of White colonisers. The Whites proposed a treaty of land to the Native Americans which asked them to give their land. In return, they will be protected from other tribes and will be given land at some other place. This speech is in response to this proposal stating the emotional and environmental value of the native tribe with their land. It was delivered in the native language and is considered controversial. This is a translated first version of the speech.

The city of Seattle in Washington in the United States of America is named after Chief Seattle.
Chief Seattle remarks that despite facing the usual existential crisis, God has blessed his tribe and his land for ages, but the future is uncertain. He is doubtful because he has received greetings from the White Chief (Governor) who has offered them a land settlement treaty. Native Americans can be easily outnumbered by the Whites. The Whites are like the grass in the prairies, whereas Chief Seattle’s tribe is like the standing trees on a storm-struck land. Seattle says that the White Chief has sent his wishes and asked for friendship, but he also wishes to buy their land in return. Native Americans, also addressed as Red Indians, are offered another place for their settlement. This offer seems wise, but Seattle thinks that the Whites do not understand that their place holds more importance to them than being just a piece of land.

Once upon a time, the number of people in the Suquamish tribe was plenty. They eventually became less as a result of conflicts and wars. He justifies the war fought by his men by saying that the impulsive nature of the youth is intolerant towards injustice. Their aggression is uncontrollable by old men and women. They are ready to sacrifice their lives for a just purpose. It is an accomplishment for them if they win at the cost of their lives, but the parents who lose their child gain nothing from this accomplishment. The value of their child’s life is more than the purpose for them. Seattle realises this part and therefore thinks that the proposal sent by the White Chief is wise and can be pondered over without any war.

Chief Seattle then speaks about George Washington. He addresses him as ‘good father’ who will protect the natives if they accept the treaty of land. The rivalry between the other native tribes, namely the Haidas and Tsimshians, is a matter of worry for the Suquamish tribe. These tribes will not harm the natives if the Americans protect them. Only then, Seattle would say that George Washington is fatherly to the natives too.

Seattle doesn’t agree that the God of the natives and colonisers is the same. The God of the Whites protects them and leads them well. However, He is partial towards the Whites and has forsaken His Red children. He says so as the Whites are dwelling and increasing in number, whereas the natives are reducing in number and will soon become history. The religion of the natives and the Whites are not the same too. They are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies. Because of these differences, Seattle remarks that the Whites and the natives cannot be brothers.

Chief Seattle acclaims that there is sacredness associated not only with the ashes of their ancestors but also with the land which is their resting place. This is not the same case as the Whites wander far from their ancestor’s graves. The natives are very closely associated with the dreams of the men. The ancestors of the Whites do not love them after death, but the ancestors of the native men do not forget their children and the land after death. They keep on loving its valleys, its rivers, its magnificent mountains and its lakes.

The future of the Reds is not very bright. Not a single star of hope hovers above their horizon. Grim fate follows them. Seattle has compared their situation to a wounded dove which is being hunted down, and the hunter is approaching it. Their doom is a few years away. The ultimate decay of the Whites also awaits them; however, it is distant. The end is evitable for both Red and White man. Both share a common destiny.

As Seattle proceeds with his speech, he announces that the proposition offered to them seems wise practically and they will ponder over it. If they happen to accept it, then they have a condition that they should never be stopped from visiting their land and tombs of their ancestors, family or friends. Everything about their land, be it living or dead, including the dust and stone, is connected to the lives of the native man and responds to him in its natural way. Their land is sacred and pure.

Seattle ends his speech by saying that the White man will never be alone. Even when the last native would have perished, the dead will be present and continue to bless the place. He says that ‘these shores will swarm with the invisible dead’. He requests the Whites to treat the dead with respect as they are not powerless. Their ancestors who have died still love and rejoice in their land. Lastly, he mentions that there is no death but only a change of worlds.

This speech displays Red Indian attachment to their land, clash of civilisations, the difference of cultures of the Whites and the Native Americans, the fading native tribe and the environmental concerns of the native man.

Short Answer Questions

1. How has Chief Seattle given assurance for his words?
   OR
   How can the Great Chief check the reliability of Chief Seattle’s words?
   Ans. Chief Seattle says that his words and promises never change just like the stars in the sky. The sun will rise every morning and the seasons will never stop returning. Similarly, the White Chief (Governor) can have faith in Chief Seattle’s words.
   
   
2. How has Chief Seattle compared the number of Whites and natives?
   OR
   Compare the number of Chief Seattle’s people with that of White Chief’s people.
   Ans. Chief Seattle says that the Whites were large in number. They were like the grass in the prairies. The number of natives was far less than that of the Whites as they were like the scattered trees on a plain hit by a storm.
   
   
3. Who was responsible for the reduced number of Red Indians?
   Ans. Chief Seattle did not blame anybody for the decreasing number of his tribe. He knew that this was the result of conflicts and wars that the natives had fought for just reasons. However, he became sentimental remembering the glorious and powerful time of his tribe.
   
   
4. Who is referred to as ‘our father in Washington’? What will he do?
   Ans. George Washington is being addressed as ‘our father in Washington’. He will protect the Suquamish tribe from other native tribes, namely the Haidas and the Tsimshians, as there are conflicts among them.
   
   
5. Describe the religion of the Red Indians.
   Ans. According to Chief Seattle, the religion of the natives is the tradition of their ancestors. It constitutes the visions and dreams dreamt by them. These visions are provided to these old people by the Great Spirit on peaceful nights. People remember those dreams as they are written in their hearts and not on any stone or book.
   
   
6. What has Seattle said about Christianity?
   Ans. Chief Seattle says that the religion of the Whites was written by their God with an iron finger on tablets of stone. He is referring to the ten commandments of Christianity. God has done this so that his message may not be erased and his people remember it throughout their life.
   
   
7. Why does Chief Seattle say that the dead never forget this beautiful world that they lived in?
   Ans. Dead Native Americans never forget the native land where they lived. They still love its grass valleys, its murmuring rivers and its magnificent mountains. They love their living people. They keep visiting their land and guide, console and comfort people of their tribe.
   
   
8. What is the similarity between a wounded dove and the native tribe?
   Ans. Seattle points out that the ultimate end of his tribe is near. There is no star of hope in his tribe’s horizon. Their condition is like the wounded dove who is hit by a hunter and the hunter is approaching it. The dove will meet his doom as the hunter reaches it. Similarly, the native tribe has little time left to face its ultimate decay.
   
   
9. Why is the land and soil sacred to the tribal people?
   Ans. Every part of the soil is sacred to the tribal people because it is related to happy and sad events of the bygone days. The living and non-living parts, including the stones and dust, respond to the steps of the native people. The soil of the land and the rocks which face the sun are full of warm memories of the lives of Red Indians.
   
   
10. Why are the natives called orphans?
    Ans. Seattle says that the God of the Whites is different from the God of the natives. If God is the same for both of them, then He has become partial; He has been favouring His White children like a father who takes care of His infant. On the other hand, He has abandoned His Red children and does not protect them. Hence, Chief Seattle regarded his tribe as orphans.

Long Answer Questions

1. What has Chief Seattle remarked about the impulsive nature of the youth?
   Ans. Chief Seattle belongs to the Suquamish tribe. This is a native tribe and his speech was delivered in 1854. The native tribe is ebbing, and it is because their men fought against real or imaginary wrong. He admits that the youth are relentless and impulsive in nature. They cannot tolerate injustice. They indulge in revengeful acts considering them to be gainful. They put their lives at stake to take revenge. This is worthy and an accomplishment for them, but the mothers who lose their sons bear the real loss. The old men and women who wait for their children at home gain nothing from wars. Seattle condemns war and does not glorify such acts of revenge.
   
   
2. Elaborate on the differences in the culture of the Native Americans and the White people.
   Ans. Chief Seattle was proposed a treaty of land by the Whites. He was disturbed as the land was of high emotional value to him. He has shared his various worries, beliefs and bittersweet plea through this speech. He believes that the God of both races are not the same. According to him, both races are different on many grounds.
   The natives hold their ancestors in great esteem. They regard the ashes of their ancestors as sacred. The religion of the native people is based on the values imparted by the ancestors. The religion of Whites is completely different from that of the tribal people. The White people are indifferent to their ancestors, and they move away from their graves. The religion of the Whites is written by an iron finger by their God on a stone tablet so that they remember it.
   The Chief also feels that God is ignorant of the native people. If the God of the natives is the same as the God of the Whites, then He has abandoned His Red children. He favours His pale-faced children more than the natives.
   There is also a substantial difference in the population of both races. The population of the Whites is much more than that of the tribal people. Natives are decreasing rapidly and soon will be a mournful history. They will disappear completely from the sacred land of their ancestors. However, he thinks that the land has blessed them so far and will continue to bless them even after their death. The Whites are indifferent to the land and its sacredness. Hence, they will never be able to understand the value of the land as the natives.
   
   
3. How has Chief Seattle described that his tribe is ebbing?
   Ans. Chief Seattle is saddened by the thought that soon his tribe would be a mournful history. The Whites are like the grass in the prairies, whereas his people are like the standing trees on a storm-struck plain. He recollects the time when his men were many in number and lived happily on this sacred land. He becomes nostalgic reminiscing the glorious era of the natives. It was due to the relentless of the youth and conflicts that not many tribal men exist.
   As there are very few people left in his tribe, he says that their condition is like a wounded dove that hears its hunter coming. The Red people must embrace their demise. He says that every race has to face fortune and failure alternately. The one that ascends must descend. The gloomy times have arrived and there is not a ray of hope for them. So, his tribe must await its demise with a sense of equanimity and resignation.
   
   
4. Why does Chief Seattle say that ‘Your God is not our God’?
   
   OR
   
   Why does Chief Seattle become circumspect and think that ethnic assimilation is not possible?
   Ans. Chief Seattle knows that the Whites worship Jesus Christ, whereas the local tribesmen worship the Great Spirit. The Chief bemoans that Lord Christ will not bestow His affection on the Red tribesmen. He is sceptical about Lord Christ ever owning the Red tribesmen as His sons and bestowing His love on them. The inevitable doom of his tribe from being the lord of the land to an insignificant minority fills the Chief’s mind with all sorts of doubts. He can anticipate that the Lord of the colonial masters would never adopt the Red tribesmen. He throws up his hands in despair and concludes that the two races can never be integrated and can never have a common destiny.
   
   
5. What are the demands of the Red Indians before they accept the proposal sent by the White Chief?
   Ans. Chief Seattle belongs to the native tribe and is asked to give their ancestral land to the Whites as stated in a proposal. It is a wise proposal as the native tribe was seen to be living a fearful life as they were constantly frightened by their ancient enemies. However, the land holds a lot of emotional, religious and ecological importance for the tribal people. Before accepting the proposal sent by the White’s Chief, Seattle puts forth some concerns and conditions.
   He mentions in his speech that he hopes that the good father in Washington would protect them and his brave warriors would prove useful acting as a great wall of strength against their enemies. He strikes a note of reconciliation between his people and the White people.
   Seattle knows that his tribe is fading away. He compares his tribe with a wounded dove that hears the approaching footsteps of the hunter in the form of the White settlers. He knows that soon his race will be history; therefore, he has no option but to accept the proposal of giving up his native land.
   He hopes that his people understand the situation and accept the proposition. He condemns wars, and therefore, he thinks that the proposition is in the welfare of the people. Once the Whites take hold of the land, they will impose their laws and regulation over it and it can hurt the sentiments of the natives. Therefore, he demands from the Whites that the natives should never be stopped from visiting their sacred land. His people should also be given the freedom to visit the graves of their ancestors, family and friends.
   
   
6. Explain ‘there is no death, only a change of worlds’.
   
   OR
   
   How do the Red tribesmen communities draw their sustenance from the land and the environment?
   Ans. Every one of the Red tribesmen communities drew their sustenance from the land and the environment. They lived, played, danced and rejoiced in the lap of this sacred land. They mingled with the spirits joyfully, with no trace of fear, because the latter lavished their affection and care on the living youngsters. Chief Seattle is filled with anguish to imagine that sooner than later, the last member of his tribe would depart. Gradually, the memory of the Red people will fade from memory. A time will come when no one will remember anything about the Red people. However, the revered ghost of the Red tribe would never abandon the land. Even if cities and towns come up in the land, the ghosts will continue to wander the roads and highways at night. Chief Seattle believes that his late ancestors continue to shower their blessings on the living tribesmen. They not only love the living but also the non-living parts of their land. He appeals to the Whites to treat the dead with respect as they are not powerless. He says that there is just a change of worlds, the dead continue to dwell in another world and keep blessing the living.
   
   
7. Give the character sketch of Chief Seattle.
   Ans. Chief Seattle was a leader of the Suquamish tribe living in the Washington territory in the nineteenth century. This speech is in response to the proposal given by the Governor of America, Isaac Stevens. The natives have been offered to trade their land; in return, the Americans have offered them another land to settle as well as protection from other tribal enemies.
   Chief Seattle was a patriot who wanted to preserve the land rights of the Native Americans. He was able to understand his people’s sentiments for their ancestral land. He was very connected to not only their land but also to its nature, mountains, lakes and valleys.
   Seattle’s life was guided by humanitarian principles rather than the destructive ones. He condemns war and promotes human welfare. He understood that there are many differences between the Whites and the natives; therefore, he strongly hopes that these differences do not become a reason for conflict.
   Chief Seattle is also a spiritual man. He upheld the sacredness of the land which was the resting place of his ancestors. He exclaimed that his religion is the traditions of his ancestors, the dreams of the old men given to them in the solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit. He also believes in transcendence which means the importance of the spiritual over the material. He affirms that the dead continue being a part of their world.
   He is an excellent orator. He is argumentative and logical in his speech. He gives forceful arguments in favour of ecological responsibility and the respect for Native American’s land rights. He is straightforward and puts forth his beliefs truthfully.
   
   
8. Explain the Red Indians’ attachment to their land.
   Ans. One of the most important themes of Chief Seattle’s speech is his people’s relationship with their land. This speech is an emotional response to Governor Stevens’ proposal for the land of the tribal people. The land is not just a piece of earth but a symbol of their culture and memories. The land is holy and sacred as it is the resting place of their ancestors. Even the dead are equally attached just like the living. They keep visiting grass valleys, its murmuring rivers and its magnificent mountains and bless the living. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove has been hallowed by some sad or happy events in days long vanished. The rocks and the dust also seem to respond to the activities of the native man. Seattle says that the land is rich with blood which means that many native men have sacrificed their lives for it. The phrases such as ‘hallowed ground’, ‘beautiful world’, ‘soil is sacred’ etc. indicate Seattle’s passion for the land. He also makes it clear that they will accept the proposal of the Whites only if they agree with one condition. The condition is that the natives should be allowed to visit their land anytime without any restrictions. He also clarifies that the Whites will never be alone residing on the native’s man land as the dead still dwell there. All these statements make it quite evident that the land holds a lot of significance for the natives.
   
   
9. Is there a clash of civilisations? How?
   Ans. There are two races mentioned in the speech delivered by Chief Seattle, namely the Whites and the Native Americans. Throughout the speech, the belief system of the Whites and their standard of living seems to clash with the Native American tribe.
   This difference in skin colour is highlighted again and again. The Americans are referred to as ‘pale-faced’ or ‘white children’, and their leader is referred to as ‘Big Chief’ or ‘White Chief’. On the other side, the native men are referred to as ‘Red man’ or ‘Red children’. Their cultures differ in many aspects, and this can be a reason for conflict between the two races. To Seattle, the Whites and the Red Indians are like the day and the night who cannot dwell with each other. There are differences on the grounds of the importance of land. The culture and religion of the two races are completely opposite, and there is also a vast difference in the population. As a result, the standard of living is quite different and this will make it difficult to live as brothers.
   
   
10. What message do we get from Chief Seattle’s speech?
    Ans. Chief Seattle who was a representative of the native settlers belonged to the Suquamish tribe. In their difficult times, the tribe was proposed a treaty of land. The Whites would buy their land and in return give them another land to settle and also protect them from their enemies. The land held a lot of importance in the native man’s life, but the proposal was wise according to their future. Seattle impressed people through his speech and made them agree to this treaty without any war and respecting the sentiments of the native man. There are many things that we learn from this speech.
    First, we get the message about the firmness of promise. Chief Seattle remarks that his words are not mere words, but they can be trusted upon like the presence of stars. He assures that whatever he says is as reliable as the return of the sun and seasons.
    Chief Seattle has also given a message of peace. He does not support war but condemns it. He understands that due to revengeful thinking, the youth are satisfied but the older generation who sacrifice their children bear the loss. In his speech, he has tried to convey that the treaty does not lead to destruction. He has also put forth arguments in favour of sentimental importance and the ecological responsibility of the tribal men’s land.
    We also get to learn about the determination and intelligence of Chief Seattle. He also considers the emotional value of the land and puts a condition that the natives should never be restricted from visiting their land. They should always be allowed to visit the graves of their family, friends and ancestors. This gives us a message of his determination and firmness about the ethical rights of the Red Indians.
    Finally, we also get a message that Chief Seattle was very proud of his culture, people, land and traditions. He speaks about his culture with great respect and dignity. He strikes a note of optimism when he says that his people will accept the proposal because it seems wise, but they will not stop visiting their land in order to receive the blessings of their ancestors.