Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle (carolebourdo.com)

My hero is Chief Seattle. He was a natural leader and a skilled orator. A tall man, with broad shoulders and a deep, clear voice that could be easily understood, even at great distances, Chief Seattle was highly respected by the white settlers as well as his own people.

He was the leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish Tribes in western Washington during a very difficult time in their history. White settlers were moving into their territory and forcing them off their land. He worked hard to find a peaceful solution to the problem. In 1854, at the signing of a treaty, he made a speech in his native language which has been translated into English and is still referred to today because of its eloquent description of the cultural differences between his people and the whites, and because it clearly portrays his views on the environment.

Chief Seattle's grave (www.chemometry.com)

Chief Seattle was born near Puget Sound in Washington State in the late 1780s and died in 1866. He loved nature and most of his life was spent near the water. He lies buried at Suquamish.

Statue near Space Needle (chiefseattle.com)

In his youth, white men were just beginning to arrive and his people were still living much as they had for centuries. During his lifetime, he saw tremendous change as settlers arrived at an ever increasing rate.

When he was in his mid-forties, he converted to Catholicism and instituted church services among his own people. In later life, he worked to prevent the spread of disease among his people and fought against those who sold whiskey on reservation lands.

I look up to Chief Seattle as a hero because he was a caring chief who led his people with compassion, wisdom, and grace through a devastating series of setbacks. He has also helped me form many of my views on how we should be stewards of the earth instead of owners.