In the speech referred to as Environmental Statement
Chief Seattle expresses his concerns and those of the native people regarding the environment. After the governor of Washington territory intentions to buy the people’s land, Chief Seattle was worried about the degradation that would befall the land.
Divine Connection with Nature
At the beginning of the speech, Chief Seattle ponders how could white man buy or sell the land. This is because the natives shared a divine connection with nature. They show respect for the land as they felt that they were connected to it. The environment was held as the giver of everything they needed in life. However, with the human civilization, Chief Seattle perceived great challenges in the future if nature was not respected and valued. As the speaker indicated, man belonged to nature and environment. All the aspects of the environment were taken as brothers and sisters, which makes a big family consisting of humans and nature.
Conditions for Land Purchase
Chief Seattle did not refuse the governments offer of buying the land. The native Indians were on the verge of distinction and so the vast land was of no importance. However, the acceptance of the offer came with conditions. The white man had to show respect for the land. The speaker pointed out that the white people had to treat the environment with kindness and teach their siblings to do the same. Chief Seattle observed the differences between the native’s culture to that of a white man. White man lacked the deep connection with the land as any piece was similar to another, which was not the case for the Indians. Whites were presented as people with a great appetite for land, as a result of civilization, and this would encroach the land leaving a desert behind. This implied that the actions of humans would result in degradation of the environment if measures to conserve it were not put in place. Chief Seattle describes the dangers of environmental degradation towards the end of the speech. He indicated that since men are connected to the land, any harm to it would have adverse effects on people.
Response to the Speech
The article presents an insightful concern of the environmental preservation. As the speaker indicated, man belongs to the land. Any harm such as pollution to the environment would present serious challenges to the people. This is because there exists a relationship between the land and the people. The Chief gave an example to illustrate the need for environmental conservation. He indicated that if one contaminated the bed, he or she would suffocate in the waste. Like a prophecy, he indicated that even the whites would become extinct as a result of environmental degradation. This can be linked to what is happening in modern time. Human beings have polluted the environment which can be seen as the disrespect to the nature Chief Seattle talked about. The consequences of this pollution are immense and costly. Human beings have been adversely affected by pollution. In a way, the waste could be seen as suffocating the humans. Chief Seattle insisted that the children should be taught to respect the land. This is because the children are the future generations. For the environment to be conserved, the young people need to be involved and be taught on how to take care of nature to avoid problems in the future.
