CHIEF SEATLE’S SPEECH
If anything happened
1. Chief Seattle was a Red Indian tribal chief who
befriended with the white settlers of his region.
In 1855, he signed the Port Elliot Treaty, ceding
Indian land and establishing a reservation for his
people. This famous speech was given by Chief
Seattle in January 1854. There are several
versions regarding the chief’s speech. Professor
Ted Perry’s version is reproduced here. It is
notable for his foresightedness for the
preservation of environment.
2. Chief Seattle started his speech with an
unusual statement. He wondered how the sky
and the warmth of the earth could be bought and
sold. For, the American President had demanded
him their native land. He commented that every
part of the earth was sacred to his people.
Everything on earth was holy in the memory and
experience of his people. The shining water that
moved in the stream was not just water but was
blood of their ancestors.
3. The Red Indians regarded the earth sacred.
They were part of the earth and it was part of
them. They regarded the flowers as their sisters
and the birds and animals as their brothers. The
rivers too were their brothers. But the white man
treated the earth as his enemy. To him the earth
and the sky were merely things to be bought,
plundered and sold. The white man didn’t
understand the ways of the red man. The sights
of their cities pained the eyes of the red man. He
hated the clatters of the white man’s cities. There
were no quite places to hear the unfurling of
leaves and the rustle of insects’ wings. The Chief
commented scornfully that he didn’t understand
things because he was a savage. For, the white
men regarded them uncivilized.
4. The Red Indians preferred the air precious.
Everything on earth, the beasts, the trees and
men shared the same air. But the white men
were quite indifferent to it. He was like a man
dying for days, and he was numb to the stench.
So the Chief warned them against the pollution of
air, because without fresh air man could not live
on earth. He also urged them to give much
importance to the lives of the wild beasts. If
anything happened to them soon it would affect
the life of man, because all things were
connected each other.
5. Chief Seattle urged the U.S President to teach
his people to respect the earth. The Redman
regarded it sacred because there remained the
ashes of their forefathers.
to earth, it would adversely affect the life of man
on earth. The Chief continued that the earth
didn’t belong to man, but man belonged to earth.
The Red Indians believed that God was same to
all. His compassion was equal for all beings. They
were never ready to put everything to attribute
to destiny. The white should have the foresight to
preserve the nature. It was a mystery to them.
The Chief concluded his speech with the warning
that the over-exploitation and pollution of nature
would destroy the life of man on earth.
ANNOTATIONS :-
Introduction Paragraph to Annotations –
Chief Seattle was a Red Indian tribal chief
who befriended with the white settlers of his
region. In 1855, he signed the Port Elliot Treaty,
ceding Indian land and establishing a reservation
for his people. This famous speech was given by
Chief Seattle in January 1854.
1. The shining water that moves in the streams and
rivers is not just water but the blood of our
ancestors.
Answer –
Introduction paragraph and –
Chief Seattle started his speech with an
unusual statement. He wondered how the sky
and the warmth of the earth could be bought and
sold. For, the American President had demanded
him their native land. He commented that every
part of the earth was sacred to his people.
Everything on earth was holy in the memory and
experience of his people. The shining water that
moved in the stream was not just water but was
blood of their ancestors.
It is remarkable that the white people
were so indifferent to preserve the environment.
Chief Seattle reminded and urged them the vital
importance of preserving nature.
2. I’m a red man and do not understand.
Answer –
Introduction paragraph and 3rd paragraph of the
Essay.
3. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon
happens to man.
Answer –
Introduction paragraph and 4th paragraph of the
Essay.
4. This we know: the earth does not belong to man,
man belongs to the earth.
Answer –
Introduction paragraph and –
 Chief Seattle urged the U.S President to teach
his people to respect the earth. The Redman
regarded it sacred because there remained the
ashes of their forefathers. If anything happened
to earth, it would adversely affect the life of man
on earth. The Chief continued that the earth
didn’t belong to man, but man belonged to earth.
Here the Chief is critical and warned the
white people not to over exploit the soil and
environment.
5. Man did not weave the web of life: he is merely a
strand in it.
Answer –
Introduction paragraph and –
Chief Seattle urged the U.S President to teach
his people to respect the earth. The Redman
regarded it sacred because there remained the
ashes of their forefathers. They never forget the
fact that man’s history and civilizations were
deeply rooted to the earth. If anything happened
to earth, it would adversely affect the life of man
on earth. The Chief continued that the earth
didn’t belong to man, but man belonged to earth.
He added that man didn’t weave the web of life;
he was merely a strand in it. It was not man who
shaped the world and his environment, and he
just happened to come to live on earth.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS :-
1. Describe the attitude of the red man and the
white man towards Mother Earth.
Answer-> 3rd paragraph of the Essay.
2. Explain the irony in the repeated statement: “I am
a savage and do and understand”.
Answer –
The Red Indians regarded the earth sacred.
They were part of the earth and it was part of
them. They regarded the flowers as their sisters
and the birds and animals as their brothers. The
rivers too were their brothers. But the white man
treated the earth as his enemy. To him the earth
and the sky were merely things to be bought,
plundered and sold. The white man didn’t
understand the ways of the red man. The Red
Indians preferred the air precious. Everything on
earth, the beasts, the trees and men shared the
same air. But the white men were quite
indifferent to it. Stating all these different ways of
the red man and the white, the Chief repeatedly
commented with scorn that he didn’t understand
things because he was a savage. For, the white
men regarded them uncivilized.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS :-
1. What does the Great Chief in Washington
demand from the red men?
The Great Chief in Washington demanded the
native land of the red men. He has offered them
a portion of land in reservation.
2. Why does Seattle say “Our dead never forget this
beautiful earth”?
The white people being thoughtless, doesn’t
care for the preservation of nature. But the red
people are always aware of it. So he says, “Our
dead never forget this beautiful earth”.
3. Why does the Chief reject the U.S. President’s
offer to buy their land?
The red men regarded earth sacred. But the
white people are quite indifferent to it. So the
Chief rejects the U.S. President’s offer to buy
their land.
4. Why does Seattle say that the white man’s
appetite will devout the earth?
The white men treated the earth like an
enemy. They regard it as things to be bought,
plundered and sold. So Seattle says that the
white man’s appetite will devour the earth.
5. What does the Chief mean by “Our ways are
different from your ways”?
The white men treated the earth like an
enemy. But the red men regard it to be sacred.
So the Chief says, “Our ways are different from
your ways.”
6. How does Seattle explain the relationship
between men and the beasts?
The red men regard the beasts as their
brothers. Without the beasts, man can no longer
live on earth. So, Seattle comments that
whatever happens to the beasts, soon affects the
man.
7. What, according to Seattle, must the white man
teach his children?
The white men must teach his children that
the earth is sacred. Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons of the earth.
8. Why does Seattle say that whatever befalls the
earth befalls the sons of the earth?
The red men never intend to harm the earth
and the environment. But the white men are
overexploiting the nature. So he says that
whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of
earth.
9. What is the red man’s concept of God?
God is common to all. His compassion is
equal for all beings. This is the concept of the red
man.
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