THE END OF LIVING - THE BEGINNING OF SURVIVAL

CHIEF OF SEATTLE

1) What is a strange idea for the Chief of Seattle? Why?

The idea of buying and selling land or the sky is strange for the Chief of Seattle
because humans don't own the earth. They are only a part of the earth like all the
other living and non-living beings.

2) Why does Seattle say that buying their land will not be easy for the Great Chief
in Washington?

The Chief of Seattle is against the Whites' notion of buying and selling the land
they live in. As they don't even own the land, he says that it will not be easy for the
Great Chief in Washington to buy the land from them.

3) List the things considered sacred or holy by the Native.

The Natives consider every part of the earth sacred. Furthermore, every shining
pine needle, sandy shore, mist in the dark woods, clearing, and humming insect is
holy for the natives.

4) What does the Chief of Seattle want the White man to teach his children?

The Chief of Seattle wants the White man to teach his children that the rivers are
their brothers. So, the rivers must be treated with kindness as they treat any of their
brothers.

5) Why does the Chief of Seattle consider the river his brother?

The Chief of Seattle considers the river his brother, because like a brother it
satisfies the thirst of the natives. They also carry canoes(boats) and provide water
to drink.

6) What are the differences in approach between the Native Indians and the White
Man toward Mother Earth?
The Native Indians approach Mother Earth as their mother. In contrast, the White
Man is not even bothered about the importance of purity for the air he breathes.
Thus, they end up buying and selling the earth for their benefit.

7) What does the Chief of Seattle mean when he says "All belong to the same
family?"

Everything, whether living or non-living belongs to the web of life on Earth. This
is why the Chief of Seattle says all belong to the same family.

8) Explain the irony in the words, "I am a savage and do not understand."

The Chief of Seattle calls himself savage or uncivilized because he does not
understand the ways of Western life. He asks how can someone enjoy their life
without even hearing the unfolding of flowers. As he is ignorant of such ways, he
calls himself a savage.

9) What are the conditions laid down by the Chief of Seattle to the Chief of
Washington?

The White man must treat the Natives as their brothers. Furthermore, they must
consider the earth as their mother. These are the conditions laid down by the Chief
of Seattle to the Chief of Washington.

10) Why, according to the author, was the White man given dominion over the
Redman?

The Chief of Seattle likes to believe that God has given the power to the White
Man to dominate the Native Americans to fulfil some special purpose.

11) In what way does the Chief of Seattle consider the God of White man different
from the God of the Native?

God of the Native Americans and the Whites are the same. The White has not yet
discovered it and tries to own the Native's God just as they own their land.

12) What do you understand by the term "All things are connected?"

Everything on earth depends upon each other for survival. Thus, all things on earth
are connected.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1) What are the two world views on the environment reflected in the speech of the
Chief of Seattle?

Chief of Seattle's speech is regarded as a powerful plea for respecting Native

American rights and environmental values. This speech is a response to the
American Government's treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty
was proposed by Issac Stevenson, the Governor of Washington. At the beginning
of the speech itself, the Chief of Seattle says that the Whites' attitude toward
buying and selling the land is a strange idea to him. As per his belief, "the earth
does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth." He considers Earth as a family
and thus believes that everything on Earth is interconnected. As Earth provides
life, he considers it as their Mother. The rivers are brothers to him as they satisfy
their thirst when needed. Moreover, the rivers carry the boats and feed their
children. He frequently points out in his speech that humans are only a part of the
earth and thus they don't have the right to use it according to their preference.

2) Write a note on the White man's attitude to land.

3) Comment on the Native's criticism of the White Man's treatment of Mother

Earth.

"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the

Chief of Seattle in 1854. It was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. Chief of Seattle's speech is a
powerful plea to the Whites for respecting Native American rights and
environmental values. The White man considers land as a commodity to buy and
sell to satisfy their greed. They consider creating cities full of noise and buildings
as a sign of civilization. Their idea of development is always against the
ecosystem. They do not understand the fact that whatever humans do to Earth will
befall back to themselves. Humans including the Whites are only a part of the web
of life. Hence, to give value to all beings is necessary. The Whites' attitude to land
is that of a ruler and therefore they consider everything on earth as their asset. The
wild horses are tamed, and the buffalo are slaughtered all to achieve their goals.
They do not understand that all these actions will arise as a threat to their survival.

4) Comment on the significance of the title.

"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the

Chief of Seattle in 1854. It was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. The title of the chapter was taken
from the last line uttered in the speech by the Chief. He criticizes the imperialistic
attitude of the Whites and the way of using the environment for their purposes. At
the end of the speech, he makes it clear to the natives that, their living is going to
end. Hence, they must be prepared for survival in the land conquered by the
Whites. A land that has been taken up by Western civilization. The natives were
living like any other human beings with positive thoughts and hope for a bright
future ahead. A sudden conquer of the land and the Whites' offer of a large area for
the natives make them worried about their future. As the Chief of Seattle
understood the motives of the Whites, he reminds his people to get ready to survive
by fighting the dark face of civilization. His speech is a reminder to all humans
about the arrival of a time when we will leave with fewer resources. Then there
will be a struggle and thus we will be forced to fight for survival.

5) Write a note on the Chief of Seattle's attitude to God.

"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the

Chief of Seattle in 1854. It was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. In the speech, he shares his
thoughts about God as well. He believes that there is only one God for all,
including the Whites. The Whites have still not discovered this. Thus, they think
that they can own God in the same way they are trying to own the land. They are
unaware of the truth that one cannot own God. He is the creator of all and so
considers everyone equal and showers compassion on everyone. The Earth is
precious to Him. So, to harm it is equal to disrespecting the creator. He also adds
that God has sent the Whites to their land for some special purpose and it is that
purpose that gave them the right to control the Red Indians. The Chief of Seattle
considers this attitude of God as a mystery.

6) Explain the lines, "The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth."

"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the

Chief of Seattle in 1854. It was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. In the speech, the Chief makes the
Whites aware of the fact that they are only a strand of the web of life. The thought
of owning the earth for their benefit is thus of no use. Whatever humans does to
Earth will befall back to themselves. Treating the earth as a commodity will end up
the humans with a lack of resources to live by. Therefore, with the above lines the
Chief is trying to make everyone reminded of the need to protect Mother Earth.
Humans are born to earth like any other beings and so don't have the right to use it
to satisfy their greed. Every being on Earth is connected as we all live in a family
called Earth. Hence, the Whites must understand the fact and start protecting the
earth as one of the beings instead of thinking of themselves as a ruler.

7) Why does the Native offer a warning to the White man who seeks to destroy
him and take away his sacred land?

"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the

Chief of Seattle in 1854. It was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. In the speech, he frequently
reminds the Whites of the consequences of their actions in the future. They take
control of the forest, tame wild horses, and slaughtered buffalos. To enable
communication, they constructed poles with wires on hilltops. All such actions of
them create an imbalance in the ecosystem and disturb Nature. For the Whites,
development is building huge buildings, a city filled with noise, etc. These are the
reasons why the Native offers a warning to the White man. He reminds them that
"The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth."

ESSAY:

"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..."
"The End of Living - The Beginning of Survival" is a speech delivered by the
Chief of Seattle in 1854. He was the chief of the Native American Suquamish and
Duwamish tribes. The speech was a response to the American Government's land
treaty to buy the native lands of Red Indians. The treaty was proposed by Issac
Stevens, the Governor of Washington Territory. His speech is regarded as a
powerful plea for respecting Native American rights and environmental values.
Chief of Seattle, an illiterate man warns us against the rapid progress of Western
civilization and calls for the urgent need to protect nature.

In the speech, he asks how can someone buy or sell land as the earth belongs to
none. So, he found the offer of the Whites for giving a large area of the Indian land
as a 'reservation' to the Indian people strange. He considers the earth as sacred. The
animals, birds, rivers, and each and every living and non-living being on Earth for
him are children of Mother Earth. The river for him is like a brother as it satisfies
their thirst and carries them on boats. To pollute it is like hurting their own brother.
So, he asks the Whites to teach their children to care for rivers as their brothers.
The necessity of protecting natural resources is what he tries to share through this.
He questions the Whites asking how can one live a life without sharing a close
bond with nature. The Whites consider creating a land full of noise and huge
buildings as a sign of civilization. The Chief of Seattle calls himself savage or
uncivilized because he does not understand the ways of Western life. He asks how
can someone enjoy their life without even hearing the unfolding of flowers.

For the Whites, the natives are beasts because of their old ways of life. This makes
the natives uncivilized from the Whites' viewpoint. The Chief wants the Whites to
know that everyone whether it is beasts or humans are all children of Mother Earth.
The Chief makes the Whites aware of the fact that they are only a strand of the web
of life. The thought of owning the earth for their benefit is thus of no use.
Whatever humans does to Earth will befall back to themselves. Treating the earth
as a commodity will end up the humans with a lack of resources to live by.

The speech gave importance to sustainable development in an indirect way.

Sustainable development can be defined as an approach to the economic
development of a country without compromising the quality of the environment for
future generations. The Chief of Seattle asks the Whites to consider everything
around us as family. It will help one to shift their thoughts from using the earth and
its beings to protecting them all.