Ready Reference Files

Chief Seattle's Speech

The 1854 Speech of Chief Seattle was recited in Suquamish dialect during the treaty negotiations between the Suquamish Tribe and the United States government. The most authentic English version was based on the translated notes of Dr. Henry A. Smith. It was published in the Seattle Sunday Star, Seattle, Washington Territory, October 29, 1887.

A more generally accepted version became popular in the 1970's and was embraced internationally by environmentalists because of its message of interconnectedness of all things. This version was published in the Irish Press, June 4, 1976. A controversy of authenticity followed and it is now recognized that this version was written by Ted Perry as a script for the film, Home, produced by the Southern Baptist Convention. It was a fictional version of what Chief Seattle might have said but Perry's authorship was not credited and many people came to believe these were Seattle's words and thoughts.

Sources: Bristow, Duane. "Chief Seattle's Thoughts". (Online). http://www.webcom.com/duane/seattle.html (visited: 10/20/98).
Suquamish Tribe, Port Madison Indian Reservation, Washington Home Page. (Online). http://www.suquamish.nsn.us/ (visited: 10/20/98).

Verified by: SY, 10/98.

Disclaimer:
While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.