When studying figures of the past, it is unfortunate that some of the most interesting have had much of the story of their lives fall victim to the obscurity and shadows of history. While we do know much of Chief Seattle’s story and why he could be considered a Peacemaker, with a warrior’s spirit as well as a leader who sought to keep his people safe in the face of an
overwhelming force.
The tragic story of the America’s first peoples following their contact with European settlers was one that led to immense loss of life, land, and ways of life. The tribes of the north–west faced this in the time of Chief Seattle who was born to the Duwamish Tribe residing in what is now the Seattle, Washington area (I wonder where that name came from). Although we are unsure of his exact date of birth, statements he made have his birth to the approximate year of 1786.
The Son of a chief he inherited the position as well as the title of Chief of the Suquamish
Tribe from a maternal uncle (Buerge).
Seattle inherited what coul
d be called apocalyptic times,
with early trading with Europeans
, inadvertently
spreading devastating diseases
which wiped out
vast number of his people, as well as pressure from other tribes in the area
.
These trials would break lesser men. Legends of his earlier life hold tales of a cunning leader and great warrior who fought for his people, wiping out fellow native groups who stood against them and striking fear and admiration into the initial French settlers. But Seattle turned away from violence after his conversion to Christianity and would never lead men into battle or strike an enemy again.
The power of religion is one that guides many peoples towards non–violent philosophies as we have read in this course. To fight against European civilization in order to protect his people’s way of life against an existential threat that many would have, justifiable, fought against must have taken no short order of will and internal struggle but Seattle was inspired to make
peace for the survival of his people, his stature, leadership and legendary articulation would later transform him into a folk hero. The impressions he left on the people who settled and transformed what was once a land of natural beauty populated solely by his kin was so strong that what is now a powerful city, was named after him during his life upon its founding.
Years after his little noted passing in 1866, a dubious sourced speech was accredited to him based off notes taken by a local writer which Chief Seattle was said to have given thirty years earlier. The speeches validity is uncertain but it’s characterization of the man is at least one that can be testament to his dignity and personal fortitude when faced with the extinction of his people. The speech is moving, true or not, and outlines a man who knows that violence will only bring death to the remainder of his people and placing his faith in the supposed brotherhood that should be extended between all people as taught by the Christian faith he adopted. It is only unfortunate that this faith was not more closely adhered by those that
Chief Seattle extended his friendship and trust to in his noble and ancient people’s time of need. In terms of nonviolent rhetoric that he adopted and the pain that he stoically held in his heart, words that have been attributed to the man are best used “True it is, that revenge, with our young braves, is considered gain, even at the cost of their own lives, but old men who stay at home in times of war, and old women, who have sons to lose, know better” (Clark). By forsaking war, Chief Seattle’s people were still dealt great injustice and death, having to move to reservations and turned into second class citizens, but his memory and the weight great wrongs committed against them, we will bear forever.
Works Cited
Jerry Clark:
https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1985/spring/chief-seattle.html
David Buerge:
https://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/buerge2.html