Chief Seattle's Response

[Voyageur]

There are a few renditions of this but none done as poetically, osit, as was done by Dr. Henry A. Smith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IomIER6pZY&NR=1

Chief Seattle gave a speech in January 1854 that was reported by Dr. Henry A. Smith in the Seattle Sunday Star in 1887. It is most usually called Seattle's Reply since it was a response to a speech by Territorial Governor Isaac I. Stevens. The speech has been widely cited as "powerful, bittersweet plea for respect of Native American rights and environmental values"

Many of the concepts and words present in Smith's version would be difficult to convey in Chinook, and it seems clear that Smith's rendition may capture the style of Seattle's speech, rather than its specific contents. While this is not a poem, it was included in our Moving Poetry series because it contains many of the rhythms and elements of great poetry.

Also, very powerful is Chief Joseph's Speech - Nez Perce.

Words do not…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMdN_4GAs4&feature=related