Chief Seattle's View Of Nature And Environmental Differences

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When it comes down to viewing the environment, many individuals have different perspectives, especially those with different cultural backgrounds. Chief Seattle’s speech shows that individuals not only have cultural differences, but also have nature and environmental differences. Seattle’s speech begins by addressing the offer given to the native tribes about purchasing land; although the natives believed the offer was harmless, Chief Seattle began to ponder on the offer, but then decided to agree. Furthermore, Seattle disapproved of the claim that Washington made saying they were like father and son, by stating that they have different views on religion and the environment. The Native tribes see the land as a sacred land where their ancestors roamed, while the people from Washington see the land with no regard of spiritual meaning. Towards the conclusion of Chief Seattle’s speech, …show more content…

Furthermore, Nature is a calm getaway from life stressors because nature has a calm and quiet atmosphere. The environment should never be tampered with because anything that causes a change in nature can harm any life form. Chief Seattle views the environment as a sacred burial ground of deceased ancestors. According to Chief Seattle “Every part of soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished” (191). Furthermore, Chief Seattle views nature as unpredictable, stating “Yonder sky that has swept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today is fair. Tomorrow may be overcast with clouds” (189). Although my views may differ from Seattle’s views, I respect his views of nature and the