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Chief Seattle was born in 1786 and became the chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. During his life, he saw many of his people fight to keep their land, however, he and his father took a different approach to the inevitable moving in of the white man. They decided to become friends with the white man and try to resolve things in a peaceful manner. In an effort to keep peace, he signed the Port Elliott Treaty in 1855 by which the tribes in Washington were given a reservation. Reservations were plots of land given to the Native Americans so they could still live in their tribes away from the white man.

Unfortunately, what Chief Seattle and others did not know was that they were being pushed off of the better land and moved into areas that were not as nice. However, what makes Chief Seattle such a great man is his attempts at generosity towards the U.S. government. In a famous speech that Chief Seattle gave in 1854 to President Franklin Pierce and to the assembly of tribes who were planning to sign the Port Elliot Treaty, he touched upon some very important issues that should still be held to heart today:

“How can you buy or sell the sky, warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sadly shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people.

So if we sell you our land, love it as we’ve loved it. Care for is as we’ve cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you take it. And with all your strength, with all your mind, with all your heart, preserve it for your children and love it.”

As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you. One thing we know: There is only one God. No man, be he Red Man or White Man can be apart. We are brothers after all.”

This was one of the most beautiful speeches ever written about the environment, and we should always keep in mind the importance of our land. Try to find his speech on the internet and read all of the powerful words this great man had to say.